Concerns over welfare fraud are growing in Ohio after new allegations surfaced accusing Somali-owned businesses in Columbus of running large-scale SNAP and EBT abuse schemes.
According to activists and commentators highlighting the issue, some restaurant and grocery store operators are allegedly exploiting the SNAP program by purchasing food inventory with government benefits and then funneling those items directly into their restaurants, where the food is sold for cash. The practice is described as allowing operators to convert taxpayer-funded assistance into millions of dollars in off-the-books revenue.
The allegations claim that certain businesses operate both grocery stores and restaurants under the same ownership, enabling them to legally accept SNAP benefits on one side while unlawfully diverting food to the restaurant side. In some cases, critics allege that EBT card skimming and benefit trafficking are also involved, allowing large sums of government aid to be siphoned away from families who actually need assistance.
The issue has reignited calls from Trump allies and conservative lawmakers for aggressive federal oversight, tougher audits, and expanded investigations into SNAP fraud nationwide. President Trump has long argued that weak enforcement under prior administrations allowed massive abuse of public assistance programs, particularly in states and cities run by Democrats.
Supporters of the Trump administration say cracking down on welfare fraud is part of a broader effort to restore integrity to government programs, protect American taxpayers, and ensure aid reaches lawful recipients rather than being exploited by organized networks.
As pressure mounts, critics argue the situation in Ohio is yet another example of why the Trump administration is pushing for stricter controls, tougher enforcement, and an end to what they describe as systemic abuse enabled by lax oversight.
