Reiterates Call for Chip-Enabled EBT Cards, Audits, and Immediate Federal Cooperation
BOSTON, MA – Brian Shortsleeve, Marine, business leader, proven government reformer, and Republican candidate for governor, today blasted Governor Maura Healey for failing to act after her administration was warned about a large-scale SNAP fraud operation that ultimately stole public benefits using more than 100 fraudulent identities.
Federal prosecutors announced charges today in a sweeping fraud scheme that drained taxpayer-funded benefits across Massachusetts. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley confirmed that Rhode Island officials uncovered the fraud through an audit and warned Massachusetts officials. Rather than investigate further or refer the case to federal authorities, the Healey administration simply shut off the perpetrators’ EBT cards and moved on.
The revelation follows a recent, separate $7 million SNAP fraud arrest and a State Auditor’s report identifying at least $14 million in waste and fraud in the same program.
“Federal prosecutors just exposed a massive fraud ring, but the real scandal is what happened before the arrests,” said Shortsleeve. “Rhode Island flagged the fraud and warned Massachusetts. The Healey administration apparently didn’t investigate, didn’t refer it to the feds, and didn’t hold anyone accountable. They quietly turned off the cards and hoped no one would notice.”
“This is not an isolated mistake. It’s a pattern,” Shortsleeve continued. “Time and again, Maura Healey looks the other way when taxpayer dollars are being stolen. Taxpayers deserve to know why her administration failed to act when it knew fraud was occurring.”
Shortsleeve called for immediate reforms, including chip-enabled EBT cards – which he previously called for in October – stronger auditing, and mandatory cooperation with federal law enforcement to stop fraud before it spreads.
“You don’t fight fraud by pretending it doesn’t exist,” Shortsleeve said. “You stop it with real controls, real audits, and real enforcement. As governor, I will put an end to this culture of denial and protect taxpayers from being ripped off.”