Rajan Babbar, Food Stamp Fraud, Virginia 2024

Lynchburg, Va. – In a shocking turn of events, Rajan Babbar, 59, the owner of Taste of India, a medium-sized grocery store in Lynchburg, Virginia, was arrested today on criminal charges related to his alleged fraud regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.

According to a criminal complaint filed today, Babbar was charged with food stamp fraud and wire fraud. He was arrested earlier today without incident.

USDA-OIG agents began to review the food stamp redemptions for Taste of India and noticed the redemptions seemed unusually high for this type of store and location. The dollar amount of SNAP redemptions skyrocketed at Taste of India during a relatively short span. In January 2018, the store completed approximately $2,500 in monthly SNAP transactions; that figure was more than $30,000 by May 2021. By February 2023, Taste of India was redeeming more than $104,000 in SNAP funds.

USDA-OIG, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lynchburg Police Department, proceeded to conduct undercover operations at Taste of India in the spring of 2023. On three occasions between April and September 2023, an undercover source entered Taste of India and another store then operated by Babbar and attempted to exchange SNAP benefits for cash. On all three occasions, Babbar agreed to the exchange and provided cash to the undercover source. No product or merchandise was sold.

Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the USDA-OIG, and Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement today.

The USDA-OIG, FBI, and Lynchburg Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Brett is prosecuting the case.

Rajan Babbar, the owner of Taste of India, was arrested on April 8, 2024 for food stamp fraud and wire fraud in Lynchburg, Virginia. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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