Four arrested in alleged food stamp fraud

NEWARK –

Four people were arrested Tuesday after a months-long investigation that revealed fraud involving food stamps and EBT cards.

Newark police and agents with the Ohio Investigative Unit and Ohio Department of Taxation served search warrants Tuesday afternoon at the Marathon gas station in the 800 block of Mount Vernon Road and at a home on Neal Avenue.

In a news release, police said they found "numerous items" which had been reported stolen from area stores and sold for "pennies on the dollar" to employees at the station. Those items were then sold to the general public, according to the release.

Stolen EBT cards were also reportedly traded to employees, who would then use the cards at area stores to buy products to sell at the gas station, the release said.

Newark Detective Sgt. Scott Snow said the investigation had been going on for several months and actually began with people who were involved with the business previously.

The four people who were arrested at the Marathon station have been identified as Ruth E. Cruz, 40, Humberto D. Adames, 36, Gabriel Adames, 43, and Anthony Urena, 18. All four are listed as living at 3 Neal Avenue in Newark.

The suspects have all been charged with illegal use of supplemental nutrition or WIC benefits, a fifth-degree felony.

Snow said the suspects would buy EBT cards from people for a fraction of what they were worth, then use the cards at their full value at local stores. The merchandise purchased would then be used to stock the Marathon station.

The merchandise ranged from candy bars and energy drinks to beer, cigarettes, carpet cleaners and high-end sweepers, Snow said. The total cost involved is over $10,000.

Snow said the suspects would create a "shopping list" and give it to "boosters" who would steal the products on the list and sell it to the suspects.

All four suspects could face additional charges when the case is heard by a grand jury in the coming weeks.

Snow would not comment on whether other people could be charged for their role as "boosters." He said he did not believe there were any employees left to run the store while all four suspects are in the Licking County Justice Center.

Gabriel Adames and Urena appeared before Magistrate Mattie Klein for bond hearings Wednesday afternoon. Klein set each man's bond at $10,000.

Gabriel Adames told Klein he felt like he was losing everything because his business had been shut down. The station appeared to be closed Wednesday afternoon.

Cruz and Humberto Adames are expected to appear Thursday for bond hearings. The hearings had originally been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon but were postponed because a translator was needed.

Court records show Humberto Adames is not a legal U.S. citizen and immigration officials have been contacted to verify his status.