The owner of a Southern California food truck has been arrested for allegedly processing an unusually large volume of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) transactions, marking the latest development in an ongoing federal effort to combat food stamp fraud in the state.
Esmeralda Soriano, owner of Soriano Produce, a food truck that primarily operates out of Santa Ana, was taken into custody following an investigation that included undercover operations and surveillance. Investigators observed that the truck had a checkout area with both food and non-food items. While SNAP benefits are intended for food purchases, non-food items such as housewares and toiletries are ineligible for purchase.
According to a criminal complaint, Dwight Llewellyn, an agent for Homeland Security Investigations, noted suspicious activity. The complaint states that Soriano Produce had a single device for processing all food stamp transactions. Investigators found the record of transactions to be questionable, citing a lack of scanners, consistent high-dollar transactions, and rapid back-to-back purchases as indicators of potential fraud.
Over a period from April 2025 to April 2026, Soriano Produce reported total SNAP dollar volume of $640,924, with an average purchase amount of $151.41. In comparison, three other similar vendors in the vicinity reported less than $100,000 in total volume and an average purchase amount below $55 during the same period. The complaint further calculated that Soriano Produce redeemed more SNAP money than some full-service supermarkets and grocery stores.
During undercover operations in May of the current year, officers reportedly exchanged $100 in SNAP benefits for $50 in cash. Soriano allegedly instructed an undercover officer not to involve her husband in such transactions. Later that month, another undercover agent reportedly received $80 in cash in exchange for a $172 EBT card charge.
Soriano faces federal penalties that could include up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. The arrest follows a recent federal crackdown in Los Angeles targeting another alleged SNAP fraud ring, where a cashier was arrested for allegedly pocketing kickbacks from welfare recipients in exchange for fraudulent purchases.
These operations are part of a wider effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations to address SNAP fraud across California. The state administers the nation's largest SNAP program, distributing approximately $12.5 billion in benefits annually. According to the California Legislature's nonpartisan fiscal and policy advisor, about 11% of these payments are issued in error, often due to recipient misinformation or administrative mistakes. Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutor, Bill Essayli, has stated that the state has not adequately addressed fraud within the program.
In a separate action, the USDA recently issued violation notices to 33 SNAP-authorized retailers in the city for allegedly engaging in the illegal exchange of benefits for cash and selling prohibited items such as alcohol and tobacco.