Theft/Property — Los Angeles, CA — reported 2026-07-08

SUMMARY

Authorities arrested a cashier accused of paying kickbacks to welfare recipients for bogus purchases.

KEY FACTS

  • Incident type: Theft/Property
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
  • Date reported: 2026-07-08
  • Suspect: not stated
  • Status: arrest

REPORTED DETAILS

  • Federal agents backed by Los Angeles police swarmed a party supply store along Skid Row in Los Angeles as part of an alleged SNAP fraud investigation.
  • Authorities arrested 30-year-old Jesse Cervantes-Gomez, a cashier accused of paying kickbacks to welfare recipients for bogus purchases and allegedly exchanging SNAP benefits for cash.
  • Federal investigators identified the store as a potential fraud target after noticing it processed more than $730,000 in SNAP purchases over the course of a year.