FOX25 Investigates: Baker says state doing all it can to stop suspected welfare abuse

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker said his administration is doing everything in its power to crack down on suspected welfare abuse in the wake of a FOX25 Investigates report that exposed food stamps for sale on Facebook, EBT cash withdrawals in the middle of the night, and millions in suspicious spending.

Investigative Reporter Eric Rasmussen went to get answers from Baker, who campaigned on welfare reform and promises to prohibit EBT card purchases on alcohol, lottery tickets, and tobacco.

“We've shut down about 2,000 smoke shops, liquor stores, places where you're not supposed to purchase goods using your EBT card,” Baker told FOX25 Monday.

But Baker did not directly address instances of food stamps for sale on Facebook or state reports obtained by FOX25 Investigates showing the same EBT card making purchases in two separate places – sometimes hundreds of miles apart – at almost the same time.

“We will do everything we possibly can within the contours of state and federal law to make sure that dollars that are being made available to people through our public welfare programs are allocated appropriately, spent appropriately,” said Baker.

But FOX25 Investigates found the agency in charge of tracking food stamps and welfare cash has just eight full-time auditors. The Department of Transitional Assistance said it relies on a total of 60 employees analyzing data as the agency tries to keep track of nearly half a million EBT cards in the state.

>>PREVIOUS: FOX25 Investigates uncovers food stamps for sale on Facebook

After the first report from FOX25 Investigates, viewers sent more examples of food stamps for sale on social media – supposedly from around the state. One post even blamed others for “snitching to FOX 25.”

The head of the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance told FOX25 last month his agency is on top of monitoring suspected EBT abuse.
           
"We have, actually, pretty elaborate RSS feeds in place, so we're able to detect immediately should anybody go on Facebook or any other social media sources to try to sell their benefits," said DTA Commissioner Jeff McCue.

McCue told Investigative Reporter Eric Rasmussen his office detected a Facebook post selling food stamps. But when pressed about whether the agency knew about the posting before FOX25 Investigates brought it to the state’s attention, McCue said, “I don't know the specific timing of when you brought it to us, but we are certainly well aware of it.”

In December, a viewer tipped off FOX25 about food stamps for sale on social media.

"Who on here buy stamps?," asks a Massachusetts man in a Facebook post shared with FOX25 Investigates.
That man – known as "Brian Bunnzy Montana" on Facebook – also posts, "I don't get them until the 10th just wanna have it set up so I'm not searching last minute."

When others on Facebook comment to question his use of federal tax dollars, “Brian Bunnzy Montana” appears to double down – posting, “Yep thanks I’ll do what I want Its my life and your tax money thank you.”

Investigative Reporter Eric Rasmussen tracked down “Brian Bunnzy Montana” – real name, Brian Pike – in New Bedford to ask why he was advertising the sale of SNAP benefits – commonly referred to as food stamps – on social media.

Pike denied he was trying to sell food stamps on Facebook and refused to speak with FOX25 about the post.
DTA told FOX25 Investigates it can't comment on specific cases due to privacy restrictions but says the agency takes these allegations seriously.

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