Young Hwa Jung, SNAP Benefit Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2016

PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia grocery store owner is headed to federal prison after admitting to a brazen scheme to defraud the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. Young Hwa Jung, 57, of North Wales, PA, received a 15-month sentence today, Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen announced.

Jung operated Jung & Hong Inc., a retail grocery store located at 2501 South 70th Street in Philadelphia. Court documents reveal that Jung wasn’t simply selling groceries; he was running a black market for food stamps. Between January 2011 and May 2016, Jung illegally purchased SNAP benefits from customers – essentially buying their food assistance with cash. It’s a simple, cynical hustle that robbed legitimate recipients and cost the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service a staggering $607,017.17.

The scheme came to light thanks to a joint investigation by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Investigators pieced together evidence demonstrating Jung’s systematic exchange of cash for SNAP benefits, effectively turning his grocery store into an illegal exchange point. Jung pleaded guilty on December 13, 2016, to one count of conspiracy and one count of trafficking in SNAP benefits.

United States District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter didn’t just hand down a prison sentence. In addition to the 15 months behind bars, Jung was sentenced to three years of supervised release following his incarceration. He’s also on the hook for full restitution of the $607,017.17 he illegally obtained, plus a $200 special assessment. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of Jung’s 2013 Toyota Tundra – a vehicle purchased with the dirty money from the fraud.

Assistant United States Attorney Mary E. Crawley skillfully prosecuted the case, ensuring Jung faced consequences for exploiting a program designed to feed the hungry. This isn’t about a minor paperwork error; it’s about a calculated effort to profit from a vital safety net. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service aims to alleviate hunger in the United States, and Jung’s actions directly undermined that mission.

This case serves as a stark reminder that defrauding federal programs isn’t a victimless crime. It’s a betrayal of public trust and a theft from those who genuinely need assistance. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal cases like this, exposing the greed and corruption that plague our system. Expect more consequences for those who think they can game the system.

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