Philadelphia's small corner store owner, Jenny Espinal Tejada, faces an 18-month stint in prison following her sentence handed down by United States District Court Judge Joshua D. Wolson for fraudulently engaging in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as detailed in an announcement from U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. The U.S. Attorney's Office reports that in addition to her prison term, Tejada is ordered to pay restitution amounting to $1,841,402 and forfeit the proceeds of her offenses.

Tejada, who entered a guilty plea last October to one count of wire fraud and one count of defrauding SNAP, conducted the fraudulent activity through her grocery store, which was not sanctioned to redeem SNAP benefits; however, she skirted the system using identification numbers from authorized merchants, moreover, she admitted to trading benefits for cash in her store actions which allowed her to work around SNAP's regulations and pocket close to $2 million intended to assist those in need. “Espinal Tejada sought to profit illicitly from the SNAP program, diverting nearly $2 million of the USDA’s money,” U.S. Attorney Romero said, emphasizing the commitment to prosecute such abuses and safeguard resources meant for the vulnerable and taxpayers alike.

SNAP's objective to provide essential food and nutrition to the underprivileged was compromised by Espinal Tejada's scheme, prompting a stringent response from law enforcement. “This joint investigation identified those who sought to profit from SNAP through illegal schemes,” Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), told the U.S. Attorney's Office, reiterating the importance of protecting the integrity of such welfare programs and their commitment to the pursuit of justice against fraudsters.

The collaborative investigation between the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI led to Tejada's apprehension and conviction with Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Abrams prosecuting the case, their combined efforts ensure that programs like SNAP can continue to serve their intended purpose without falling prey to individuals who would divert these critical funds for their own gain.