Federal prosecutors in Massachusetts have charged two Haitian immigrants in a huge food stamp fraud case. Antonio Bonheur, a naturalised US citizen, and Saul Alisme, a lawful permanent resident, stand accused of illegally trading almost $7 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for cash. The scam ran for about 20 months in two small stores—Jesula Variety Store and Saul Maché Mixé Store—located together in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood. The stores were tiny, only about 150 and 500 square feet, yet they cashed between $100,000 and $500,000 in SNAP benefits each month, way beyond what similar supermarkets handle. Investigators say undercover agents saw many cases where SNAP cards were swiped and cash given instead of groceries. The store owners kept part of the benefits. Prosecutors also say the stores sold food stamp-ineligible items like alcohol and resold donated food not meant for retail. Money from the fraud scheme was moved through many bank accounts to hide its source. Both men face one count of food stamp fraud and if found guilty, could get up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The accused have not pleaded yet, and their guilt is not proven. Officials emphasized this case points to weak SNAP retailer checks rather than fraud by benefit users. They also stressed these charges against two people do not suggest wider fraud in the immigrant or Haitian communities.