Food Stamp Raid Hits Gas Station

A Marietta gas station convenience store was raided Monday morning as part of an investigation into food stamp fraud.

City police blocked off the entrances to the station at Aviation Boulevard across South Marietta Parkway from the CCT bus depot before 10 a.m. while U.S. Department of Agriculture investigators seized evidence from the convenience store, WSB-TV reported.

Neighbors told WSB they could buy beer, cigarettes and gas with food stamps, usually at a big markup. The USDA-run Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program does not allow the purchase of such items.

Fox 5 reported allegations that the store also paid cash for food stamps. The USDA estimates that 8.2 percent of stores accepting food stamps illegally traffic in them.

The use of electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards helps the USDA track down trafficking and fraud and led to more than 5,000 investigations in 2010.

The Marietta Chevron has been under investigation since October 2009, two months after it began accepting food stamps, Fox 5 reported.

An affidavit filed before the search says Chevron did more food stamp business than other convenience stores in the area, Fox 5 reported.

Marietta police cited the Chevron store for selling alcohol to minors after a compliance check Jan. 28.