DETROIT—In a story that will only encourage porn-addiction theorists, authorities say a Detroit store has been stocking supplies not on the government’s list of authorized food stamp goods—things like porn, Viagra and alcohol—and then using a rather clever scheme to allow people to use their food stamps to obtain them.
The alleged crime came to light this week after federal prosecutors filed fraud charges against three employees of Jefferson’s Liquor Palace.
According to the Chicago Tribune, “The alleged scheme worked this way: Food stamp recipients would get cash from the store in exchange for swiping larger amounts off their electronic cards. The store would then be reimbursed by the U.S. Agriculture Department.”
Prosecutors say the store provided Viagra, painkillers, liquor and porn videos in exchange for swiping about $2,000 off food stamp cards, with the overall fraud at the store topping out at about $130,000 over two years.
The store is now closed.
