(WWJ) – Three Michiganders are facing charges for allegedly running a “substantial interstate food stamp fraud enterprise” in which they stole more than $4 million.
Vanessa Williams of Highland Park, and Travis Newby and Derriun Williams, both of Detroit, are all facing felony charges after search warrants were executed at eight different locations across Metro Detroit last week, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday.
The suspects allegedly used the food stamp ring to illegally obtain EBT card data from 8,000 cardholders, mostly residing outside of Michigan, and primarily in California, according to Nessel’s office.
They then allegedly reproduced EBT cards here in Michigan with that data and used the cards for fraudulent purchases at Sam’s Club stores across Metro Detroit.
Search warrants executed on May 24 resulted in “substantial material seizures” related to the alleged fraud ring and additional potential suspects. More defendants are expected to be named as the investigation continues, according to Nessel’s office.
The investigation was launched by Nessel’s newly formed Organized Retail Crime Unit (ORC), operating with Michigan State Police as the ‘FORCE’ Team.
Authorities were first alerted to the alleged scheme last year when Sam's Club's global security team began seeing "large amounts of EBT purchases being made from several Detroit area Sam's Club stores," Nessel said Tuesday.
“Organized Retail Crime isn’t just shoplifting. It’s a highly involved and orchestrated criminal enterprise that costs Michigan businesses and consumers millions of dollars each year,” Nessel said, per a press release.
Local law enforcement agencies or retailers with evidence of organized retail fraud are encouraged to email the ‘FORCE’ team.
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