• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Should I turn in my brother for food stamp fraud?

What should I do?

  • Turn in my brother and his sons.

    Votes: 2 4.8%
  • Turn in my brother, his sons, and store

    Votes: 4 9.5%
  • Turn in the store

    Votes: 20 47.6%
  • Do nothing at all.

    Votes: 16 38.1%

  • Total voters
    42
I believe in the rule of law. And I didn't squeal on anyone. My brother didn't do anything that would necessitate me beating his ass. We use our brains not our fist to resolve problems. What you did was Assault. or Possible Assault and Battery. Assault - Oklahoma Stat. Ann. Tit. 21, §641 Unless the crime is committed against a special victim or involves the use of a dangerous weapon, assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to thirty days in jail or a $500 fine, or both. Assault and Battery - Oklahoma Stat. Ann.Tit. 21, §644.) A crime of assault and battery that is not committed against a special victim, does not result in serious bodily injury, and does not involve the use of a dangerous weapon is a misdemeanor punishable by up to ninety days in jail or a $1,000 fine, or both. So what your telling me is that you are a common criminal.

I gotta love it, you would MUCH rather rat your own flesh and blood out to the police and possible jail time than confront him... you don't have to beat his ass, but confront him...

I figure you were not a grunt and don't know what tree to tree counseling statements are, what a blanket party is... :roll:

Sometimes you have to man-up not weasel out. You can try and deflect this on me, but the truth is you would rather that the limp willie way out and narc your own flesh and blood out rather than confront and help him see the light...

I am a combat vet who realizes some things are best handled man to man, not dropping dimes. Bruises heal, a criminal record doesn't. (You are starting to sound like a liberal) :roll:
 
Here is the situation. My brother and his sons live in another state. My sister passed away this month from lung cancer. I traveled there for the funeral and to visit. When I got there i found my brother and two of his sons had not eaten for two days. So i went out and picked up some burgers. After they had eaten I took my brother and his sons in my rental car, none of them have a car, to buy groceries which I gladly paid for. On the way back they asked me to stop at a store so i did. They came out with beer and cigaretts. Well needless to say i was pissed. I asked, how can you afford beer and cigaretts but can't afford food. My brother responded "the store accepted his food stamp card for beer and smokes, isn't that cool" I said hell no its not cool. My brother and his adult sons are on food stamps. So what am I to do. Turn in my brother and his sons.

Well, at least the money you spent went to real food, and not beer and cigarettes. Seems that they place a higher value on beer and cigarettes than on real food, which seems kinda wrong priorities to me. But you can't really keep people from hurting themselves, if they are bound and determined to do so.
 
They were hungry for two days because my sister just died. And because they are without transportation. And they save their food stamp money for beer and cigarettes. You must not have The store that accepts there card for beer and cigarettes is 18 miles from there apartment. And my brother confessed to me that he has been buying tobacco and alcohol form this store for many years. I was outside waiting in the parking lot. I had just bought groceries for them when they asked me to stop at the store. None of them have a job so they are flat broke. There are other circumstances that I choose not to divulge. Like I said they didn't pay for the groceries because they save their cards for beer and cigarettes. What are you suggesting Maggie?

I'm suggesting mind your own business. ;)
 
Are you aware that just not reporting income is considered "welfare fraud?" They don't care if you say "you didn't know." Ignorance of the law is NOT an excuse, especially when you are an adult and have signed the necessary paperwork and agreements to receive such benefits.

Yes, reporting income which not the same as buying beer and cigs from a store who is illegally trading beer and cigs for food stamps per their agreement with the Government.
 
You should turn them all in: you're family is stealing from you indirectly. The store is enabling them. You should not abide by criminals. And when you bought food for your nephews? They purchased cigarettes and beers instead of asking to make a quick grocery run. They will never stop stealing until something bad happens to them.
 
Yes, reporting income which not the same as buying beer and cigs from a store who is illegally trading beer and cigs for food stamps per their agreement with the Government.

Nope, people get arrested for fraud for buying beer and cigarettes if caught too. You are wrong. You cannot SIGN a CONTRACT and then claim ignorance of the terms. It is ILLEGAL, AGAINST THE LAW, an arrestable offense.

Among the 216 arrests was a woman living in a $300,000 home in Fairfield Twp.’s Walden Ponds subdivision. The woman was using her son’s SNAP card for groceries while he was in jail.

“Her excuse was he told her to use the card because it was going to expire. She said she was buying items for her son to use when he got out,” Rosser said. “He went to prison for three years. I am thinking the milk won’t be good when he gets out.”

SNAP benefits can only be used to buy foods to eat, such as:
breads and cereal
fruits and vegetables
meats, fish and poultry
dairy products
seeds and plants to produce food
SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy:
Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
Any nonfood items, such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, diapers, and household supplies
Vitamins and medicines

Another woman was arrested after she used a neighbor’s card to purchase two gallons of milk for her cat. She told detectives it was going to “starve to death.”

The Butler County operation also uncovered drug addicts trading their SNAP cards for heroin.
“They didn’t want to eat, they wanted caps of heroin,” Rosser said.

Some also offered to sell their benefits for 50 cents on the dollar, and Rosser said it happens on street corners, in homes and even at the grocery store.

“Someone sees a person in a store pushing a cart load of groceries and goes up and and says, ‘Give me $100 for this card. It has $200 on it,’ ” Rosser said. That cash, he said, is then used to buy drugs or items not permitted with assistance funds, including alcohol and cigarettes.
The investigation also uncovered retailers who buy cards or allow people to purchase unauthorized items.
 
Nope, people get arrested for fraud for buying beer and cigarettes if caught too. You are wrong. You cannot SIGN a CONTRACT and then claim ignorance of the terms. It is ILLEGAL, AGAINST THE LAW, an arrestable offense.

Seriously? Two if thise cases were using ANOTHER persons food stamps.

Being arrested also doesn't mean guilt. Bet if you follow up on those cases, if they have a good lawyer, they walk.

You aren't signing a contract when you get food stamps. You are signing material to apply to food stamps and legally claiming you have X income. Nowhere is there a legal contract once given the benefits detailing what you can and can't buy legally. They send a pamphlet but that's not a binding contract now is it?
 
Seriously? Two if thise cases were using ANOTHER persons food stamps.

Being arrested also doesn't mean guilt. Bet if you follow up on those cases, if they have a good lawyer, they walk.

You aren't signing a contract when you get food stamps. You are signing material to apply to food stamps and legally claiming you have X income. Nowhere is there a legal contract once given the benefits detailing what you can and can't buy legally. They send a pamphlet but that's not a binding contract now is it?

Are YOU kidding? You are saying that ignorance of the law is an excuse to break it. You are wrong. These people sign a legally binding contract that they cannot use their foodstamps in such a manner because that is fraud. It is clearly spelled out to all before signing the papers, among with numerous other regulations.

It IS a legally-binding contract which holds up in a court of law.
 
I'm suggesting mind your own business. ;)

Well, I think when it's your family member, it is your business. :) Besides, welfare fraud effects everyone, so it actually is everyone's business.
 
Demand a portion of the funds received fraudulently in order to stay quiet

guy_with_thumbs_up.jpg

Ain't America great? LOL!
 
I take it since they are living on beer and cigs that none of these kids are minors? If that is the case, tell them what they are doing is abhorrant and you'll have no further part in it. Tell them to give you a call when they get their act together, their priorities straight, but until then, they're on their own. Make it clear you are not available for bail money.

You can still love them, but you don't have to participate in their road to ruin.
 
As the Buddhists would say...sometimes the middle path is best.

Thanks for the non-response. There is a way saying, "If you have nothing to say, then say nothing. It's a lot less ridiculous that way."
 
Threaten to turn them in if they don't start using the service properly
 
Here is the situation. My brother and his sons live in another state. My sister passed away this month from lung cancer. I traveled there for the funeral and to visit. When I got there i found my brother and two of his sons had not eaten for two days. So i went out and picked up some burgers. After they had eaten I took my brother and his sons in my rental car, none of them have a car, to buy groceries which I gladly paid for. On the way back they asked me to stop at a store so i did. They came out with beer and cigaretts. Well needless to say i was pissed. I asked, how can you afford beer and cigaretts but can't afford food. My brother responded "the store accepted his food stamp card for beer and smokes, isn't that cool" I said hell no its not cool. My brother and his adult sons are on food stamps. So what am I to do. Turn in my brother and his sons.

Report the store that broke the law but don't be an ass to your inlaws.
 
I think I am going to turn in the store. Welfare fraud is not small time when you consider how much of this goes on across the country. And If they shut the store down my brother may consider buying groceries with his SNAP card, but probably not.

I really don't understand why you would turn in the store but not your family. That's such blatant hypocrisy but it is your choice to engage in such behavior.
 
In my opinion turning in the store clerk is the only reasonable course of action. He/she is not supposed to accept food stamps for alcoholic beverages and/or cigarettes. It is out of line, breaking the law and evidently helping other people ruin their lives. Do the right thing.
 
Consider that in the overall scheme of things, this is a rare, isolated action by your brother in a terrible, difficult time for him. The act was a minuscule transgression that means nothing. To even think that you are striking a blow at welfare fraud by turning in your own family is ludicrous.

Also consider that your family, as you know it, will end forever if you turn them in. The consequences for your brother and his boys will be very severe and negatively change their lives for a long time to come. You will be blamed and will no longer be a part of your own family. You will be ostracized and hated and NEVER trusted or forgiven. Your mother and father would not have been proud of you.

This is not a post about right or wrong, this is a post about weighing and considering consequences.

DO NOT turn them in and never mention this again. If you have to do something, give them a smaller Christmas card next year. Be nice to those guys, they're all hurting, scowl at somebody else, your brother needs you to be his brother.

Don't turn the store in either, my guess is that your brother really needed a drink and might even have been trying to show his boys that he could provide something and wasn't a total failure. That store probably did him a favor.
 
Last edited:
I think I am going to turn in the store. Welfare fraud is not small time when you consider how much of this goes on across the country. And If they shut the store down my brother may consider buying groceries with his SNAP card, but probably not.

Do as you wish, but you do realize there is no way to turn in the store without turning in your brother. The card he used leaves a record that now certainly will be examined with a fine tooth comb. Chances are he's hit that store before. In fact any good investigator will flag his card and look at all other purchases.
 
I really don't understand why you would turn in the store but not your family. That's such blatant hypocrisy but it is your choice to engage in such behavior.

One would begat the other.
 
Here is the situation. My brother and his sons live in another state. My sister passed away this month from lung cancer. I traveled there for the funeral and to visit. When I got there i found my brother and two of his sons had not eaten for two days. So i went out and picked up some burgers. After they had eaten I took my brother and his sons in my rental car, none of them have a car, to buy groceries which I gladly paid for. On the way back they asked me to stop at a store so i did. They came out with beer and cigaretts. Well needless to say i was pissed. I asked, how can you afford beer and cigaretts but can't afford food. My brother responded "the store accepted his food stamp card for beer and smokes, isn't that cool" I said hell no its not cool. My brother and his adult sons are on food stamps. So what am I to do. Turn in my brother and his sons.

No you shouldn't turn in your brother and and his kids. You shouldn't rat family out unless it is something major like murder,rape, child molestation or some other serious crime. I do not think your other relatives and deceased sister would forgive you if you ratted your brother and nephews out.If you are going to turn in anyone then turn in the store that accepted the food stamp card for beer and smokes.After reading a few posts that would result in ratting out your brother and kids and therefor not a good idea.
 
I gotta love it, you would MUCH rather rat your own flesh and blood out to the police and possible jail time than confront him... you don't have to beat his ass, but confront him...

I figure you were not a grunt and don't know what tree to tree counseling statements are, what a blanket party is... :roll:

Sometimes you have to man-up not weasel out. You can try and deflect this on me, but the truth is you would rather that the limp willie way out and narc your own flesh and blood out rather than confront and help him see the light...

I am a combat vet who realizes some things are best handled man to man, not dropping dimes. Bruises heal, a criminal record doesn't. (You are starting to sound like a liberal) :roll:

No, you're sounding like a liberal. I'm as liberal as all get-out and I make a policy of keeping the law and the government, cops and bureaucrats as far from my life as I can arrange it. Conservatives would advocate turning in welfare frauds without second thought.
 
No, you're sounding like a liberal. I'm as liberal as all get-out and I make a policy of keeping the law and the government, cops and bureaucrats as far from my life as I can arrange it. Conservatives would advocate turning in welfare frauds without second thought.

So true, but the liberal aspect I see in this is 'let the government handle my family's business', 'I don't want to take any responsibility in my family', so different from many of the self titled SgtRock's rants on other 'personal responsibility' issues.

I thought CONs would say family takes care of family, not let the Gubmint handle my family... :peace
 
Back
Top Bottom