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NAP monitoring retailers and recipients for fraud
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Posted on Jun 16 2008
With ongoing violations and fraudulent use of food stamp coupons, the Nutrition Assistance Program is conducting close monitoring of retailers by assessing commodities purchased through NAP vouchers and balancing redeemed food stamp coupons with the retailer’s monthly inventory of commodities.
Department of Community and Cultural Affairs acting Secretary Melvin LO Faisao said it is “agreeable” that an undisclosed number of food stamp recipients misuse their coupons and that there are retailers who engage in the illegal activity.
Faisao said that DCCA-NAP has “assigned units that conducts investigations, inspections, violation awareness with consequences and recoupment process through administrative hearings and or the small claim litigation process.”
He added that cases are then reported to the Attorney General’s Office as violators.
Faisao declined to disclose the number of food stamp violations in the CNMI but said that these are reported to the Attorney General’s Office as violators and that “allege violators are under investigation and verification on the issue.”
Defrauding the program leads to the loss of NAP benefits, fine, or imprisonment.
