Protecting Taxpayer Dollars: Heffley Responds to SNAP Fraud Investigation

December 18, 2025

HARRISBURG – Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) thanked the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) and the Dauphin County District Attorney's Office for its role in uncovering a major Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit trafficking operation where those allegedly involved are accused of stealing more than $775,500 in benefits.

Authorities charged seven individuals for their involvement in a scheme where a store owner previously banned from SNAP, allegedly used an unauthorized electronic benefits terminal to exchange public assistance funds for cash and ineligible items. The operation, which allegedly spanned three years.

“Fraud and abuse of public assistance programs is absolutely unacceptable,” Heffley said. “As chairman of the House Human Services Committee, I applaud the investigative efforts to break up this criminal operation.”

Heffley emphasized the importance of continued efforts to combat fraud and abuse in public assistance programs. He said protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring benefits reach those who truly need them must remain a top priority for lawmakers and law enforcement alike.

“I recently voted ‘yes’ on the Human Services Code, as part of the state budget, which included important safeguard and accountability measures to prevent this kind of abuse,” Heffley said. “As stewards of taxpayers dollars, we must do everything we can to prevent fraud before it happens.”

Heffley has been a strong supporter of strengthening oversight and accountability in public assistance programs, particularly SNAP, which serves more than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians. He has advocated for the move to chip-enabled benefit cards and reviewing how benefits are distributed.

“Pennsylvania’s more recently reported SNAP is at around 10%,” Heffley said. “In addition to preventing and capturing those who commit fraud, the payment error rate must be decreased so  individuals are properly paid and the Commonwealth does not lose federal dollars because of such errors.”