A Mattapan shop owner has admitted in federal court that his tiny corner store was at the center of a multimillion-dollar food-stamp fraud. On Tuesday, 74-year-old Antonio Bonheur pleaded guilty to charges tied to a years-long scheme that prosecutors say routed at least $6.7 million in SNAP benefits through Jesula Variety Store, a neighborhood business of roughly 150 square feet. Bonheur acknowledged exchanging EBT value for cash and ineligible items, and sentencing is still to come.
According to New Bedford Guide, Bonheur pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of unauthorized use, transfer or possession of benefits. The outlet reports that plea paperwork says the U.S. Attorney’s Office will recommend a sentence no higher than the low end of the federal sentencing guidelines. Court documents cited in that reporting state that Jesula processed at least $6.7 million in fraudulent EBT transactions between February 2021 and December 2025.
How prosecutors say the scheme worked
When the case was first unsealed in December, prosecutors said Jesula Variety Store regularly rang up SNAP redemptions at levels you would expect from a full-service supermarket, not a cramped neighborhood shop. Some months, the totals allegedly topped $300,000 and even $500,000.
As described by the U.S. Attorney's Office, undercover agents carried out test buys inside the store. They reported EBT cards being charged for full transaction amounts while customers walked away with only a portion of that value in cash or with goods that SNAP does not cover. Agents also said they saw liquor being sold, along with donated MannaPack meals that were intended for overseas relief, all rung up on SNAP. Prosecutors argued that the pattern pointed to systematic trafficking rather than legitimate retail sales.
Charging documents show thousands of high-value redemptions
A supplemental affidavit attached to the complaint draws on USDA ALERT transaction data to map out the volume of allegedly suspicious activity. The filing notes that, "Jesula Variety Store had 3,369 SNAP Benefit transactions for $499 or more." It also cites multiple individual redemptions over $2,000 and shows that the store’s average transaction size far exceeded that of nearby supermarkets. Investigators highlighted that gap as a key red flag for fraud. The transaction-level figures are laid out in detail by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Officials condemn the alleged abuse of public and charitable aid
Federal officials and local leaders have framed the case as a striking misuse of taxpayer-funded assistance and donated food aid. The Boston Globe reported that U.S. Attorney Leah Foley called the alleged fraud "shocking and glaring," and noted that Gov. Maura Healey said her administration had flagged suspicious activity for federal investigators.
Legal stakes and what’s next
According to the plea paperwork, the wire fraud count carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison, and the unauthorized benefits count carries up to five years. Restitution, fines and forfeiture are also on the table. The plea was entered on March 10, and a sentencing date had not yet been scheduled, per New Bedford Guide. Federal prosecutors say their broader investigation into SNAP trafficking in the region is still active.
