Food Stamp Fraud Case Involving Haitian Immigrants in Boston
Two Haitian immigrants in Boston, Massachusetts, are facing serious allegations related to a multimillion-dollar food stamp fraud operation. This operation reportedly included defrauding a nonprofit food program aimed at assisting starving children in Haiti.
Last month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed charges against Antonio Bonheur, a 74-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Haiti, and Saul Arisme, a 21-year-old legal immigrant who received a Social Security card in November 2024.
The indictment claims that Bonheur owned Jesura Variety Store while Arisme managed Sole Mash Mix Store. Both establishments accepted food stamps, which became the focal point of an investigation that began when a small store in Boston started redeeming significant amounts of food stamps.
According to the indictment, the two reportedly trafficked millions of dollars in food stamp benefits in a relatively short period. The stores allegedly conducted numerous transactions exceeding $95 daily and hundreds of similar transactions monthly, with totals surpassing $30,000 at SAUL MACHE MIXE and over $300,000 at JESULA VARIETY STORE.
It’s noted that “it is extremely difficult” for these stores to provide justifiable transactions for the amount of food stamp benefits they redeemed. Observations indicated that both stores lacked basic customer amenities: no shopping carts or bags, just one cash register, and no barcode scanners. Furthermore, these shops were found to have a limited inventory of food items eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits.
Research has suggested that Bonheur was involved in trafficking over $6 million worth of SNAP benefits for more than three years through his store, JESULA VARIETY STORE. Meanwhile, Arisme has reportedly been trafficking SNAP benefits through SAUL MACHE MIXE STORE since May 2025, accumulating an estimated $121,890 in SNAP benefits.
Adding another layer to the allegations, both immigrants are suspected of selling processed food packages donated by the nonprofit organization Feed My Starving Children, which is illegal. According to the indictment, these packages are designed to be shipped directly to food-insecure regions, such as Haiti, and are meant for emergency food supplies for children in need.
Federal prosecutors have indicated that the sale of this donated food involved illegally sourcing it from the nonprofit’s supply chain, bringing it back to the U.S., and then selling it in their home country for profit.
If convicted on the food stamp fraud charges, both Bonheur and Arisme could face up to five years in prison, along with three years of supervised release and a hefty $250,000 fine.
