FRESNO, Calif. - Jorge Luis Rivera, a 53-year-old resident of Fresno, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and attempted wire fraud. The indictment was unsealed following Rivera's recent arrest.
According to court documents, Rivera was the owner of El Ranchito Bakery in Fresno, which had been authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as Food Stamps, since 2005. SNAP benefits are intended for the purchase of food and cannot be exchanged for cash. However, between approximately 2011 and August 2018, Rivera allegedly instructed his employees to exchange SNAP benefits for cash and accept SNAP benefits for unauthorized items at the request of customers. The estimated loss to the United States resulting from this scheme exceeds $5 million.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandre Dempsey and Joseph Barton are handling the prosecution.
If convicted, Rivera could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. However, the court will determine the final sentence based on various factors, including statutory guidelines and other considerations. It is important to note that the charges against Rivera are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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