A Liberian man got slapped with two decades behind bars for swiping a whopping $2.6 million in food stamp benefits from the disabled and poor, a crime that a federal judge has described as deeply disturbing. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, James Peabody, 34, was handed a 20-year sentence after a guilty plea for a wire fraud conspiracy charge linked to this brazen scheme.
U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton, revealed in her announcement that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is a lifeline for low-income Americans, and at the register is where victims found out they'd been robbed. “My heart breaks for them,” Simonton said, as per the U.S. Department of Justice when the needy attempted and failed to buy groceries because their accounts had been drained by the fraudsters. Caught in the act by a net of law enforcement including the FBI and several Texas police departments, Peabody's sham operation came crashing down. He, along with accomplices Saybah Keihn and Margretta Jabbeh, had set up African food stores that were fronts for their EBT card swindling, skimming SNAP benefits from real beneficiaries who were left high and dry.
In a bitter twist, several victims expressed to the court how they had to turn to food banks or even dumpsters to find food when their SNAP funds vanished due to Peabody's fraud. One victim expressed gratitude towards the FBI “for investigating my case when no one else seemed to care.” Keihn and Jabbeh, the co-conspirators, were also convicted for their roles, with prison sentences of 108 and 129 months respectively, as cited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough emphasized the commitment to justice for the victims, stating, “We will not tolerate anyone that uses a federal program to enrich themselves at the expense of families who truly need and depend on the benefits.” He explained how the defendants falsified claims that the SNAP beneficiaries were buying approved items in actuality when no such transactions occurred. During the transactions, the accused blew smoke over the USDA’s eyes as the agency deposited funds into accounts controlled by the fraudulent operation, as per the U.S. Department of Justice.
With the federal hammer coming down on this sizable fraud case, the message is clear: those who play with fire, targeting the safety nets meant for our society's most vulnerable members, will get burned. The takedown was a joint effort involving the FBI's Dallas Field Office, the USDA Office of Inspector General, and various local Texas police departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson took point on the prosecution of the case. For more information, press officer Erin Dooley can be contacted at [email protected].
