Two Massachusetts men accused of trafficking millions in SNAP benefits, selling donated meals intended for starving children

BOSTON – Federal authorities have arrested two men accused of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar fraud involving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at small convenience stores they ran in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood, where monthly redemptions reportedly soared to $500,000—dwarfing those of nearby full-service supermarkets. The scheme also allegedly included selling donated humanitarian meals meant for starving children overseas.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, Antonio Bonheur, 74, of Mattapan, and Saul Alisme, 21, of Hyde Park, each face one count of food stamp fraud. The pair was taken into custody this morning and is scheduled for an initial appearance in Boston federal court at 3:15 p.m. today.

Bonheur operated Jesula Variety Store, a roughly 150-square-foot space, while Alisme ran the adjacent Saul Mache Mixe Store, occupying about 500 square feet, both sharing a single storefront. Despite their modest size and limited inventory, charging documents allege the outlets posted extraordinarily high SNAP volumes that defied legitimate retail patterns. Jesula Variety frequently exceeded $100,000 in monthly redemptions, often climbing past $300,000 and occasionally hitting $500,000—far outpacing a comparable local supermarket’s $82,000 average.

Transaction data further revealed anomalies: only about 10% of SNAP purchases fell under $40, while over 70% topped $95—a profile more typical of large grocers than corner stores. Undercover buys allegedly confirmed fraud, with agents exchanging SNAP benefits for cash on multiple visits, including liquor sales, and both defendants personally handling the illicit transactions.

Investigators also claim the stores profited by reselling MannaPack meals from the nonprofit Feed My Starving Children—donated food packs funded entirely by charity for overseas distribution to malnourished kids—at around $8 each, despite prohibitions on retail sales.

With scant genuine inventory or lawful sales, the defendants reportedly depended almost wholly on SNAP funds for income, using multiple secondary bank accounts to shuffle, withdraw, and redeposit proceeds, masking their fraudulent origins.

The food stamp fraud charge carries potential penalties of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are determined by federal judges based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region Investigations; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Mallard from the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is leading the prosecution.

The details in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.