6 people arrested for food stamp fraud in Texas Department of Public Safety investigation

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX) — Six residents of El Paso, Texas were arrested earlier this week in a food stamp fraud investigation conducted by the state's Department of Public Safety.

The individuals in question were part of a scam with a local store owner in which they, the owner, would give the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients cash in exchange for processing the redemption of their benefits at half their value.

As a result of the operation, there was a total of six suspects arrested for theft of services and one administratively processed recipient by the Department of Health and Human Service Office of Inspector General for the suspected trafficking of SNAP benefits.

The following individuals were booked into the El Paso County Jail:

• Adriana Franco, 31, of El Paso – Theft Amount - $5,807.00
• Alejandra Tagle, 31, of El Paso – Theft Amount - $3,595.44
• Arely E. Marin 30, of El Paso – Theft Amount - $4,821.45
• Lorenza Franco, 52, of El Paso – Theft Amount - $5,084.65
• Mayra C. Menchaca, 32, of El Paso – Theft Amount - $5,643.54
• Omar Alberto Gallegos, 42, of El Paso – Theft Amount - $44,475.93

All the cases have been turned in to the El Paso County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.