How to resolve AdBlock issue? LUCERNE, Calif. – A local businessman said he’s now in the midst of appealing a decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture last month to permanently disqualify him from participating in the food stamp program.
Kenny Parlet, owner of Lakeview Supermarket & Deli on Highway 20 in Lucerne, was notified the week of Thanksgiving of the decision, as Lake County News has reported.
He told Lake County News this week that he’s working with the USDA to complete the appeals process. Parlet said he’s not sure how long the process will take.
However, he has the support of Congressman Mike Thompson’s office, which has approached the USDA about the decision.
Thompson said in a written statement that actions like the one taken against Lakeview Supermarket “have serious implications on our county’s small businesses and families who depend on food stamps.”
Thompson said he spoke with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack last week and made it clear to the secretary that the USDA’s actions “went too far and unnecessarily jeopardized people’s access to food stamps.”
He said Vilsack agreed with him to better train employees on food stamp rules and regulations and to expedite Lakeview Supermarket’s appeal.
The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service made the decision based on an investigation in which it sent an agent to the store several times to use benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – or SNAP – program.
The agency concluded that the store was guilty of “trafficking,” which in the program’s terminology means to exchange SNAP benefits for cash.
Parlet said the incorrectly handled transactions amounted to $132.50. The employee responsible for the four transactions that Parlet said occurred has since been terminated.
Parlet maintains that his store hasn’t engaged in trafficking, adding he received no warning before he was banned from the program.
He said the decision ultimately could cost him as much as $500,000 annually and threatens his business.
Thus far the USDA has not offered Lake County News any details about the case, other than to acknowledge the permanent disqualification.
This past August the USDA announced it was cracking down on misuses in the program, with hundreds of stores sanctioned or disqualified due to trafficking allegations and other alleged misuses of SNAP benefits.
Parlet said Thompson’s office connected him with a USDA staffer who is helping him fulfill the appeal requirements.
“They say they’re going to expedite the process,” he said. “I don’t know how long it takes normally.”
Parlet said he’s guardedly optimistic that he can get a positive outcome in his case, but still feels he’s been caught unfairly in the government’s crackdown.
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