The Seattle Police Department is investigating a multi-group crime ring targeting vulnerable members within the Chinatown-International District community.
Since July, SPD West Precinct officers have done surveillance – watching members of this crime ring exploit homeless and drug addicted individuals receiving EBT benefits, or food stamps.
Suspects offered cash payments—often a fraction of the benefits’ value—in exchange for EBT purchases.
To build a case, police dedicated five days between July and October to document EBT trafficking and have identified 18 suspects. Eleven have been arrested; seven more are still being sought.
West Precinct Capt. Marc Garth Green said patrol officers carved time out of their work schedules over the course of three months to investigate. He said they