Unmasking the SNAP Scammer: Italian Man Gets Prison for Million-Dollar EBT Fraud Ring

PORTLAND, Ore. – In a resounding victory for justice and the integrity of public assistance programs, an Italian national has been handed a significant federal prison sentence for orchestrating an elaborate, multi-state scheme to defraud the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) of over $1.5 million.

Salvatore Camporeale, 50, faced the consequences of his actions in an Oregon federal courtroom, receiving 30 months behind bars for his role in a sophisticated operation that preyed on the system designed to help the most vulnerable.

Camporeale's illicit enterprise involved the acquisition and use of thousands of illegally cloned Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.

These cards, loaded with stolen SNAP benefits, were then used by Camporeale and his network of co-conspirators to purchase vast quantities of groceries and other eligible items. Instead of feeding families in need, these goods were then resold to smaller markets, creating a lucrative black market that ultimately channeled laundered money back to Italy.

The intricate fraud spanned across Oregon, including Portland, and extended into Washington State, leaving a trail of financial devastation.

Prosecutors detailed how the scheme systematically drained benefit accounts belonging to disadvantaged individuals, effectively stealing from those who relied on these funds for basic necessities. The U.S. government, as the administrator of the SNAP program, was defrauded of an staggering sum exceeding $1.5 million, funds that were intended to combat food insecurity.

Following his release from federal prison, Camporeale will serve three years of supervised release, during which his activities will be closely monitored.

Crucially, the court has also mandated that he pay full restitution of $1,507,778 to the U.S. government, a figure that underscores the immense scale of the financial damage inflicted by his criminal enterprise. This restitution aims to recover the funds stolen from taxpayers and the SNAP program.

Camporeale is not alone in facing justice for this extensive fraud.

Several of his co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme and have been sentenced, highlighting the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies to dismantle such intricate criminal networks. The investigation, spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with crucial assistance from the U.S.

Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Portland Police Bureau, serves as a powerful reminder that those who exploit social welfare programs for personal gain will be held accountable. This sentencing reaffirms the commitment to protecting vital public resources and ensuring that justice prevails for the communities affected by such predatory practices.