He Spent $1.5 Million in Food Stamps
He used electronic benefit transfer cards to buy massive amounts of Pepsi.
In a document filed last September in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the office of the U.S. attorney for that district described a shopping trip that David Quinones made to a store referred to as "Retailer A" -- where local law enforcement officers had him under surveillance.
"Defendant purchased, among other items, approximately 20 cases of Pepsi with three unique EBT cards," said this statement. "Later that day, defendant drove to a different Retailer A location in Calumet City, Illinois. Defendant purchased among other items, approximately 20 cases of Pepsi for $211.32, using three unique EBT cards."
"After purchasing the items," said the statement, "defendant transported them to a gas station in Chicago to resell them for profit. ... On February 6, 2020, LEOs (law enforcement officers) again established surveillance at the Evergreen Park Store (of Retailer A). At approximately 7:00 p.m., defendant purchased 139 cases of soda using three EBT cards."
"Defendant also used EBT cards at a second retailer (Retailer B), opening multiple accounts in his own name to make the store purchases," said the statement.
On Feb. 4 of this year, Quinones signed an agreement pleading guilty to wire fraud in this case.
"QUINONES paid SNAP recipients, in cash and otherwise, for access to their EBT cards and associated PINs, so that he could use the EBT cards to fraudulently obtain items using their SNAP benefits," said the........
