STEELTON, Pa. — Pennsylvania authorities have filed charges against seven individuals accused of running a large-scale Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud operation that allegedly processed more than $775,000 in illegal transactions.
The investigation, led by the Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, focused on the Quick Stop Convenience Store located at 300 Lincoln Street in Steelton.
According to investigators, store owner Solanyi Ramos was charged with accepting SNAP benefits despite being permanently banned from the program. Authorities say Ramos, along with employees Rafael Jermaine Powell, Wilson Javier Garcia Matteo, and Beatriz Rosario Acosta, orchestrated a scheme that exchanged SNAP benefits for cash and prohibited items.
Three SNAP recipients — Shawn Van-Jeffrey McCoy, Dorothy A. Wilson, and Shariah Denise Kiser — were also charged for their roles in the operation. Officials explained that SNAP trafficking schemes allow stores to profit without providing food, while recipients receive cash to spend on items not permitted under the program.
State Inspector General Michelle A. Henry said the defendants used sophisticated methods to exploit both taxpayers and individuals in need. She emphasized that Pennsylvania will not tolerate fraud involving public assistance programs.
If convicted, the defendants could be ordered to pay restitution to reimburse taxpayers for the stolen benefits. Nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians, about 14% of the state’s population, rely on SNAP assistance each month. Governor Josh Shapiro has previously noted that Pennsylvania distributes approximately $366 million in federal SNAP funds monthly to support eligible residents.
