A longtime U.S. Department of Agriculture employee and five others have been charged in a sprawling fraud and bribery scheme that authorities say siphoned more than $66 million from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, commonly referred to as food stamps.
Federal prosecutors unsealed a superseding indictment on May 29, accusing Arlasa Davis, 56, of selling confidential license data from inside the USDA’s anti-fraud division to help a network of conspirators illegally obtain electronic benefit terminals. Davis is also charged with taking bribes disguised as “birthday gifts” and “flowers,” according to the indictment.
