--  FOUND GLASS IN NAILS DOWN
BETWEEN YOUR FEET.
CBS4 NEWS AT 6:00 STARTS RIGHT
NOW.
THIS IS SOUTH FLORIDA'S
NEWS.
FOODSTAMP FRAUD.
THEY SWEEP INTO A FLEAMARKET
AND MAKE DOZENS OF ARRESTS.
THEY SAY THE SCHEME WAS WORTH
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WE ARE LIVE BACK WITH MORE ON
WHAT THE FEDS SAY WAS HAPPENING
FOR YEARS.
THE US ATTORNEY SAYS IT IS
BELIEVED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
USE THEIR FOODSTAMP CARDS TO
ILLEGALLY RECEIVE CASH INSTEAD
OF FOOD.
THE FOCUS WAS ON THE VENDORS
WHO ALLEGEDLY ALLOWED THIS TO
HAPPEN DURING THE OPERATION
STAMPEDE RECEIVING FEES OF AT
LEAST 20%.
THIS IS THE LARGEST TAKE
DOWN IN US HISTORY.
22 VENDORS ARE ACCUSED OF
ILLEGALLY RECEIVING MONEY FROM
THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY ALLEGEDLY ALLOWED
FOODSTAMP RECIPIENTS TO USE
ELECTRONIC BENEFIT CARS--  CARS
TO GET CASH INSTEAD OF FOOD.
THEY ARE TO BE USED SOLELY
TO PURCHASE FOOD, NOT TO GET
CASH.
THESE REAL--  RETAILERS ARE
ABUSING THE PUBLIC TRUST BY
STEALING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
FROM THE FEDERAL FOODSTAMP
PROGRAM INTENDED TO PROVIDE LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH BASIC
PROVISIONS OF FOOD AND
NUTRITION.
MOST OF THE DEFENDANTS ARE
PART OF A JOINT COUNTY AND
STATE OPERATION.
THEY GET CASH AT A REDUCED
AMOUNT.
THIS VENDOR SAYS HE WOULD
NEVER ALLOW THIS.
WE WORK BY THE LAW.
THE VENDORS ORCHESTRATED
THEIR OWN OPERATION WHICH HAS
BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 YEARS.
TODAY'S ARREST SHOULD SERVE
NOTICE TO EVERYONE THAT
TRAFFICKING FOOD STANDS IS A
CRIME.
IT WAS THE FIRST PHASE AND
THEY ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE
PEOPLE USING THE CARDS FOR CASH.
OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLE.
THESE SCHEMES DIRECTED AT THE
FOODSTAMP PROGRAMS ARE SERIOUS
OFFENSES THAT QUALIFY FOR
LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCES.
6 PEOPLE WHO WERE CHARGED.
IF CONVICTED THOSE ARRESTED
COULD FACE UP TO 20 YEARS
BEHIND BARS FOR WIRE FRAUD AND
