A Chicago man has admitted to defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) of over $1.5 million. David Quinones, 44, pleaded guilty in federal court to a wire fraud charge, which could lead to a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The sentencing is scheduled for June 18, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger.
SNAP is a federal program managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state governments to provide nutritional benefits for eligible individuals and families. Authorized retail stores can accept SNAP benefits through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards or Link cards for eligible food items only. Exchanging these cards for cash or other items is illegal.
Quinones admitted that between 2018 and 2023, he exchanged cash or goods with SNAP recipients for access to their Link cards and identification numbers. He used these cards at authorized stores, posing as an authorized user, to purchase various goods which he then resold for personal gain. This fraudulent activity involved more than 1,200 cards and led the USDA to pay out approximately $1,554,804 in SNAP benefits.
The announcement was made by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Shantel R. Robinson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General in the Midwest Region; and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Kelly represents the government in this case.
