Welfare Fraud in Tennessee

From The Beacon Center of Tennessee:

The report, published on the Center’s investigative journalism website, TennesseeWatchdog.org, and broadcast by Action News 5 in Memphis, detailed transactions using welfare recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards between October and December 2011. Some of the most alarming purchases included:

• Graceland’s ticket office — $80 (two transactions)
• Wolfchase Mall — Almost $500 (four transactions)
• Airport Inn Hotel — $100
• United States Postal Service (USPS): $360 (two transactions)
• Senses Nightclub — $60
• Waffle House — $120
• AutoZone — $600 (five transactions)
• Southland Mall — $200
• Orpheum Theater — $120
• Best Buy — $60
• United Parcel Service (UPS) — $80

In addition, thousands of dollars was withdrawn or spent using EBT cards at numerous liquor stores throughout Memphis, with one transaction totaling $790.