HARRISBURG, PA — State and local prosecutors on Thursday announced charges against seven people accused of running a sophisticated SNAP trafficking scheme that allegedly funneled $775,677.77 in fraudulent transactions through a Steelton convenience store over three years.
The charges stem from a multi-year investigation led by the Office of State Inspector General and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office into operations at Quick Stop Convenience Store, located at 300 Lincoln Street. Investigators allege the store’s owner continued accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits despite being permanently barred from the program.
Authorities say the scheme involved exchanging SNAP benefits for cash and prohibited items, allowing the store to profit without providing food while recipients received cash at a steep discount. In a typical transaction described by investigators, a $200 SNAP charge would yield $100 in cash to the recipient, while the store was reimbursed the full amount in public benefits.
Charged in the case are Solanyi Ramos, the store’s owner, along with employees Rafael Jermaine Powell, Wilson Javier Garcia Matteo, and Beatriz Rosario Acosta. Three SNAP recipients — Shawn Van-Jeffrey McCoy, Dorothy A. Wilson, and Shariah Denise Kiser — are also charged for their alleged roles in the operation.
If convicted, the defendants could be ordered to pay restitution to reimburse taxpayers for the misused public assistance funds.
State Inspector General Michelle A. Henry said the case reflects a broader effort to protect programs intended for vulnerable Pennsylvanians. She said the alleged conduct exploited both taxpayers and individuals in need by diverting benefits away from their intended purpose.
Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said SNAP trafficking schemes damage entire communities by undermining trust in assistance programs designed to provide nutrition to families facing hardship.
The investigation involved extensive coordination among the Office of State Inspector General, the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Special Agent Erin DiOrazio of OSIG and Detective Roxanne Snider of the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division led the probe.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris said the case required advanced investigative techniques and sustained collaboration among agencies. DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh said the department remains focused on ensuring SNAP benefits reach those who truly need them.
Arrest warrants have been issued for all seven defendants, and the investigation remains ongoing. All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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