Fugitive Felons Snared with Food Stamp Records

February 9, 2000

USDA says 726 fugitive felons in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area have been arrested by matching them against government records of current or former food stamp recipients. Total arrests now are more than 5,000 nationwide. "Operation Talon" included a sting operation.

Officials matched law enforcement agencies’ felony fugitive files with the state social services agencies’ food stamp recipient files. :Law enforcement officers then can locate and apprehend fugitives who also receive benefits illegally.

This time, fugitive felons were invited to participate in a free bus tour junket to Atlantic City for a day of gambling; they were offered a $50 stake and free gym bag, bearing the logo of the sting operation, if they signed up early.

When the fugitives arrived for the trip, law enforcement agents posing as tour personnel arrested them and drove them in the "tour bus" to the local jail. Among those apprehended were violent offenders and felons wanted to attempted murder, robbery, burglary, sex offenses, assaults, drug violations, thefts and other charges.