Seattle police have arrested 11 people connected to a large food stamp fraud operation that took advantage of homeless and addicted individuals in the Chinatown-International District. The multi-agency investigation started in July 2025 and ended with arrests in October after months of watching and planning by law enforcement.
The Seattle Police Department’s West Precinct led the investigation. Officers worked with other agencies to stop a criminal network that was stealing government food benefits from people who needed them most. The fraud ring operated openly in the neighborhood, with suspects working in shifts throughout the day.
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Page Contents
How the Fraud Scheme Worked
The criminals used two main methods to steal EBT benefits from vulnerable people. Police discovered the operation was well-organized, with different people working morning, afternoon, and evening shifts to maximize their illegal profits.
Method 1: Store Escort Scheme
- Suspects found homeless people with EBT cards
- They offered cash worth about 50% of the card’s value
- Suspects went to stores with victims and bought groceries
- The food and household items were resold to restaurants and retailers for full price
Method 2: Direct Card Purchase
- Criminals bought EBT cards directly from recipients
- They paid $100 cash for a $200 EBT card
- Suspects got the PIN numbers from card owners
- They made bulk purchases at certain convenience stores that helped the scheme
Police say some stores knew about the fraud and participated in the illegal activity. The criminals resold the goods across King and Snohomish counties, making huge profits from taxpayer-funded benefits meant to help poor families buy food.
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Connection to Drug Trade
Investigators found a disturbing link between the fraud ring and drug dealers. After paying EBT recipients cash for their benefits, the suspects would tell nearby fentanyl dealers that these people now had money. Drug dealers would then target these vulnerable individuals to sell them dangerous narcotics.
This created a harmful cycle where people experiencing homelessness and addiction lost their food benefits, received less cash than the benefits were worth, and then faced pressure to spend that money on drugs. Police say this connection made the fraud even more damaging to the community.
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Arrests and Criminal Charges
The Seattle Police Department identified 18 people linked to the criminal network. So far, eleven suspects have been arrested, while seven remain at large and are still being sought by police.
Main Suspects:
- Ha Son Thach – Facing multiple felony food stamp trafficking charges, held on $10,000 bail
- Lien My Khuu – Charged with felony trafficking, released pending trial
- Several others appeared in court and were ordered to stay away from 12th Avenue and Jackson Street, the center of the fraud operation
Prosecutors continue building their case with help from Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). More charges may be filed as the investigation continues.
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Impact on Victims and Community
Police emphasize that many EBT recipients who sold their benefits are considered victims of exploitation. These individuals were often desperate for immediate cash due to homelessness or addiction. However, authorities warn that selling food stamps can result in permanent disqualification from federal assistance programs like SNAP.
The total amount of stolen benefits has not been released yet. The Chinatown-International District community has been significantly affected by this criminal activity, which operated openly for months before police intervention.
Law enforcement agencies continue working together to dismantle the remaining parts of this fraud network and prevent similar schemes from operating in Seattle neighborhoods.
