The owner of a small Boston convenience store pleaded guilty on Mar. 30 to charges related to a multi-million-dollar fraud involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Antonio Bonheur, 74, of Mattapan, admitted in federal court to one count of food stamp fraud and one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 8.
Authorities said Bonheur’s Jesula Variety Store, which occupies about 150 square feet in Mattapan, processed monthly SNAP redemptions ranging from $100,000 to $500,000—far exceeding the approximately $82,000 per month redeemed by full-service supermarkets in the same area. The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported that transaction data showed unusually high average redemption rates for such a small business.
According to charging documents, only about 10% of SNAP transactions at Jesula Variety Store were under $40 while more than 70% exceeded $95—patterns typically seen at large supermarkets rather than small variety stores with limited inventory. Undercover operations found that Bonheur personally exchanged SNAP benefits for cash on four occasions and sold liquor using SNAP benefits.
Bonheur also profited from selling MannaPack meals donated by Feed My Starving Children—a nonprofit organization providing emergency food supplies intended exclusively for children overseas—in his store for about $8 per package. These meals are not authorized for retail sale and are meant solely for humanitarian relief efforts.
Investigators allege that Bonheur relied almost entirely on USDA-funded SNAP redemptions as income and concealed these proceeds through multiple secondary bank accounts designed to create the appearance of legitimate business activity. Despite receiving millions in SNAP funds annually through his store, he also received personal SNAP benefits after making false statements regarding his income and assets during the application process.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the plea along with officials from the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and other agencies involved in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Mallard is prosecuting the case.
The charge of food stamp fraud greater than $5,000 carries up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000; wire fraud carries similar penalties. Sentencing will be determined according to federal guidelines.
