A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found over $13 million in likely Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program fraud in Ohio.
USDA Inspector General John Walk announced the inspection report by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) identifying $13.3 million in potential SNAP fraud in Ohio.
OIG based its analysis on data provided by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) which administers federal food assistance to Ohioans in need.
“I commend Ohio authorities and FNS for their cooperative participation in this important review so that SNAP administrators understand the vulnerabilities that create openings for fraudsters and to take corrective action to safeguard American taxpayers and citizens in need,” Walk said. “My office is proud to provide analysis to help administrators improve safeguards and protect SNAP from fraud as part of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud under the leadership of Vice President J.D. Vance."
OIG evaluated the quality and integrity of SNAP participant data, focusing on key information needed to validate an individual’s eligibility.
ODJFS provided OIG participation data for each month in fiscal year 2024, and each month’s data contained records for every participant within a household that received SNAP benefits that month. OIG’s analysis identified problems with data used to determine eligibility for food assistance and to calculate the correct amount of SNAP benefits paid to recipients.
Specifically, OIG found that 171,601 unique records contained data with questionable information resulting in a financial impact of $13.3 million. OIG found records with duplicate social security numbers, future dates of birth, dead recipients, payments that exceeded the allowable food assistance amount for the size of the household, and participants who did not live in Ohio.
OIG provided recommendations to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and ODJFS, through FNS, for actions to improve program integrity. We acknowledge and appreciate the State of Ohio's efforts to evaluate the questioned costs identified in our report.
The Ohio review is the first in a series of 10 scheduled evaluations by USDA OIG to include data analytics. These reviews help states improve the data integrity of their SNAP program so that appropriate internal controls may be implemented before money is distributed.
USDA OIG is currently in the process of reviewing SNAP data requested from nine more states. Of those nine states, five have already shared data. The remaining four states continue to object to OIG’s information request, preventing auditors from assessing the integrity of their recipient data and whether money is going to eligible Americans.
“Ohio’s participation in this inspection shows the benefits of federal and local authorities working together against fraud,” Walk said. “I call on all states that receive a request from OIG to disclose their SNAP data and work with OIG to ensure accountability in federal nutrition assistance programs and prevent American taxpayer-funded assistance from being squandered by fraud, waste and abuse. Hiding information on administration of SNAP only helps fraudsters.”
The SNAP program feeds roughly 41 million people nationwide, but USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has said that the program is stuffed with fraud.
🚨SNAP FRAUD: The Department of Agriculture is reporting that in ONE STATE, they found that SNAP recipients own more than 14,000 luxury cars.
— TPUSA Rapid Response (@TPUSARapidRep) April 30, 2026
"That includes 3 Ferraris, 11 Lamborghinis, 59 Maseratis, 141 Porsches, and more than 2,000 Teslas."
"Secretary Brooke Rollins says… pic.twitter.com/QN0fhgyOdF
