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$7M SNAP and Charity Food Scam: Two Haitians Charged in Massachusetts

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BOSTON — Two men originally from Haiti are facing federal criminal charges in Massachusetts after authorities alleged they orchestrated a years-long scheme to illegally traffic nearly US$7 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits while also selling donated food products intended for the international charity Feed My Starving Children.

Federal prosecutors announced the charges in mid-December 2025, following a lengthy investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and other federal agencies. The case centers on two small retail businesses operating in the Mattapan section of Boston, which investigators say processed extraordinarily high volumes of SNAP transactions inconsistent with legitimate grocery sales.

The defendants were identified as Antonio Bonheur, 74, of Mattapan, and Saul Alisme, 21, of Hyde Park. Prosecutors said both men are originally from Haiti. Bonheur is a naturalized U.S. citizen, while Alisme is a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Court filings did not specify when either man first entered the country.

According to charging documents, Bonheur owned and operated Jesula Variety Store, a small neighborhood shop that began accepting SNAP benefits in September 2021. Despite having a very limited inventory and a storefront measuring only a fraction of the size of a typical grocery store, the business allegedly redeemed millions of dollars in SNAP benefits over several years.

Federal authorities estimate that between 2021 and 2025, Jesula Variety Store redeemed approximately $6.8 million in SNAP benefits — an amount prosecutors say is impossible for a store of its size and stock. By comparison, investigators noted that a full-service supermarket in the same area would typically redeem a small fraction of that amount each month.

Alisme is accused of operating a second business, Saul Mache Mixe Store, located adjacent to Bonheur’s shop. That store began accepting SNAP benefits in May 2025 and allegedly trafficked more than $120,000 in benefits within a matter of months, raising immediate red flags for investigators monitoring redemption data.

Prosecutors allege the men engaged in SNAP trafficking, a felony offense that involves exchanging food assistance benefits for cash or other non-approved items. In undercover operations, law-enforcement agents allegedly observed customers receiving cash in exchange for swiping their SNAP cards, often at a discounted rate, while the merchants later redeemed the full value from the federal government.

In addition to the food stamp fraud, authorities allege the defendants sold donated food products manufactured by the nonprofit Feed My Starving Children. The meals, which are funded entirely through charitable donations, are intended for distribution to malnourished children in impoverished countries and are not authorized for retail sale in the United States. Prosecutors say the products were instead offered for sale inside the stores, generating illicit profit from food meant for humanitarian relief.

Federal officials described the alleged conduct as a serious abuse of both taxpayer-funded assistance programs and charitable goodwill.

“This case represents a dual betrayal,” prosecutors said, noting that the scheme not only diverted public funds from families in need but also exploited donations intended to fight hunger abroad.

Bonheur and Alisme are each charged with food stamp fraud, a federal offense that carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, fines of up to $250,000, and permanent disqualification from participating in federal nutrition programs. Additional penalties could include asset forfeiture if the defendants are convicted.

The criminal complaints were filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts in October 2025, though the arrests and public announcement came weeks later. Authorities allege the core of the scheme spanned more than three years, beginning in 2021 and continuing into 2025.

As of the announcement, neither defendant had entered a plea. Attorneys for Bonheur declined to comment publicly, while counsel for Alisme did not immediately respond to media inquiries. No formal defense arguments have yet been presented in court, and both men are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Federal officials emphasized that SNAP fraud undermines confidence in one of the nation’s most important social safety-net programs, which serves millions of low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities. The case, they said, underscores ongoing efforts to strengthen oversight and prevent abuse of both government assistance programs and charitable food aid.

The investigation remains ongoing.

 

Bahamas News

New GPS Evidence Prompts Fresh Search for Missing American Woman in Abaco

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ABACO, BAHAMAS — Nearly two months after American sailor Lynette Hooker vanished in waters off Abaco, investigators are preparing to conduct a new search based on GPS and navigation data that reportedly challenges the account originally provided by her husband.

The case, which first drew international attention in early April, began when Brian Hooker told authorities that his wife was swept away after falling from an inflatable dinghy during rough conditions in waters near Elbow Cay.

Initial search efforts involving Bahamian and U.S. authorities covered extensive areas of the Sea of Abaco but failed to locate the missing Michigan woman.

Now, according to multiple U.S. media reports, investigators have obtained electronic navigation and GPS data that appears to place the couple’s dinghy in a different location from where searchers initially concentrated their efforts.

The new information has prompted authorities to reopen search operations and seek permission for divers to examine a more targeted area of the Sea of Abaco.

Unlike the broad search that followed Hooker’s disappearance, the renewed effort is expected to focus on a relatively shallow section of water, reportedly about 25 feet deep. Investigators believe the location may offer a better opportunity to recover evidence and potentially answer lingering questions surrounding the disappearance.

The latest development marks a significant shift in the investigation.

What began as a maritime search-and-rescue operation has evolved into a complex multinational investigation involving Bahamian authorities, the United States Coast Guard and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Brian Hooker was detained and questioned by Bahamian authorities following his wife’s disappearance but was later released without charges. While investigators have never publicly accused him of a crime, reports indicate he remains a person of interest as authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the case.

Hooker has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has maintained that his wife accidentally fell overboard.

The investigation has intensified in recent weeks. U.S. authorities have reportedly seized the couple’s sailboat, Soulmate, transporting the vessel to Florida for forensic examination. Investigators are said to be reviewing onboard electronics, digital records and other potential evidence as part of the ongoing inquiry.

The case has also attracted attention from Lynette Hooker’s family, who have continued to press for answers and support efforts to locate her.

The renewed search comes after Brian Hooker returned to the United States following the disappearance. Reports indicate he cited family reasons, including concerns about his mother’s health, for leaving The Bahamas.

For investigators, however, the focus now appears fixed on the newly identified search area and the electronic evidence that led them there.

Whether the latest operation produces answers remains to be seen. But nearly eight weeks after Lynette Hooker disappeared in the waters of Abaco, authorities believe new technology and new information may finally provide a clearer picture of what happened that night.

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US President Leads Rededication of United States; Theme is One Nation Under God 

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USA, May 22, 2026 – Thousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Sunday for “Rededicate 250,” a large-scale prayer and patriotism event tied to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026.

The day-long gathering centered on faith, national unity and what organizers described as a call to “rededicate” the United States to God and country under the theme, “One Nation Under God.”

Hosted under the Freedom 250 banner, the event featured worship music, public prayers, patriotic tributes and speeches from high-profile political and religious figures. Organizers said the rally was designed to inspire Americans to reflect on the nation’s founding principles and spiritual heritage ahead of the semiquincentennial celebrations next year.

Multiple media outlets reported that thousands attended the event, though no official crowd estimate was immediately released. Giant screens, patriotic imagery and religious symbols lined the National Mall as participants waved American flags, sang hymns and joined in collective prayer.

A recorded message from former U.S. President Donald Trump was aired during the program, while several conservative leaders and evangelical figures also addressed the crowd. Scripture readings and references to America’s Christian roots featured heavily throughout the presentations.

One of the most talked-about moments came in a recorded message from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who appeared seated behind what appeared to be the historic Resolute Desk as he delivered a scripture reading and message to attendees. Trump read from 2 Chronicles 7:14, the often-quoted biblical passage which states: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray… then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” The verse was used to reinforce the event’s central theme of national prayer, repentance and renewal.

The event also drew criticism from opponents who argued it blurred the line between religion and politics, with some activists raising concerns about Christian nationalism and the increasing role of faith-based references in public life.

Still, supporters defended the gathering as a peaceful and constitutionally protected expression of faith, patriotism and freedom of assembly.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Former Cuban Leader Raul Castro Indicted in U.S. Over 1996 Shotdown  

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USA, May 22, 2026 – Nearly 30 years after one of the deadliest confrontations between Cuba and the United States, the U.S. government now wants former Cuban leader Raúl Castro brought to American soil to stand trial over the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft.

To make that happen, U.S. prosecutors formally indicted the 94-year-old former president and longtime defense minister on May 20, accusing him of helping direct the military operation which killed four men connected to the Miami-based humanitarian group “Brothers to the Rescue.”

The indictment was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne in Miami and includes charges of:

  • conspiracy to commit murder,
  • destruction of aircraft,
  • murder of U.S. nationals,
  • and murder in international airspace.

Also named in the indictment are former Cuban Air Force chief Rubén Martínez Puente, pilots Lorenzo Alberto Pérez-Pérez and Francisco Pérez-Pérez, along with several senior Cuban military officers accused of participating in or authorizing the mission.

U.S. officials allege the Cuban fighter jets deliberately targeted the unarmed civilian planes while they were flying in international airspace on February 24, 1996. Cuba has long insisted the aircraft repeatedly violated Cuban airspace and posed a national security threat.

The attack killed Carlos Costa, Pablo Morales, Mario de la Peña and Armando Alejandre Jr., all linked to the anti-Castro exile group which conducted flights searching for Cuban migrants at sea.

While Castro is highly unlikely to ever appear in a U.S. courtroom, the indictment signals Washington’s renewed hardline posture toward Havana and reopens painful wounds from one of the Cold War era’s most controversial incidents in the Caribbean region.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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