Premier Christy Clark ready to impose thermal coal levy

2 May 2017

PREMIER Christy Clark announced on Tuesday at NMV Lumber in Merritt the measures she will take if necessary to stop the shipment of thermal coal through British Columbia.

“Ideally, the federal government will act on our request to ban thermal coal in our ports – but if they don’t, British Columbia will charge a carbon levy on it,” said Clark. “By doing so, British Columbia will establish the world’s first greenhouse gas benchmark for thermal coal – and make it uncompetitive to ship through B.C. ports.”

Should the federal government not implement a thermal coal ban, a re-elected BC Liberal government will develop regulations under the Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act to ensure all thermal coal shipped to B.C. terminals is subject to a carbon price – approximately $70 per tonne – that reflects the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the extraction, processing, transportation and combustion of thermal coal through a BC terminal.

“I am hopeful that our federal partners will act on my suggestion – and act quickly,” said Clark. “But if they don’t, and if we are re-elected, I will instruct the civil service to immediately begin drafting the regulatory framework – and impose a levy on thermal coal that will make these shipments unprofitable.”

Thermal coal is among the dirtiest and most carbon-intensive methods to generate power and heat. Last year, 6.6 million tonnes of thermal coal was exported through BC ports, 94 per cent from the United States. The vast majority of coal mined in British Columbia is metallurgical coal, used in steel-making.

“Banning thermal coal is the right thing to do for BC LNG and biomass producers who can help fill the need for cleaner energy in Asia,” said Clark. “And now is the right time to do it, because while good trading partners cooperate, the United States has launched this unfair assault against key sectors of our economy and the workers they employ.”

City of Burnaby uses innovative approach to help Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion build for the future

2 May 2017

BURNABY Council has approved allocating funds from the City’s Community Benefit Bonus Housing Fund to help the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion (BACI) replace its aging facilities and build new non-market housing.

The agreement-in-principle, which is subject to rezoning and to BACI securing capital funding from BC Housing, will allow the Association to redevelop a portion of the city-owned site at 3755 Banff Avenue and enter into a long-term lease, securing the site well into the future.

“This is precisely the kind of project we envisioned supporting when council established the Community Benefit Bonus Policy in 1997,” said Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan. “I’m proud that the City has been able to work with BACI and found a way to help them continue to expand the valuable services they provide in our community.”

BACI is a Burnaby-based, non-profit organization that provides innovative services to over 1,000 children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities and their families in Metro Vancouver. It currently operates nine units of affordable rental housing and a 36-space child care centre on the site, which it has leased from the city since 1973.

BACI is proposing to replace the existing child care building with a mixed-use facility comprised of a new 36-space child care centre on the ground floor and nine non-market housing units above. A new residential building, consisting of six non-market rental units, is also proposed at the southeast corner of the property. The existing nine-unit residential building on site, Filby Court, will remain in place.

If BACI is successful in completing the rezoning and obtaining capital funding, the city will renew the lease and, through the Community Benefit Bonus Housing Fund, provide $1.6 million toward subsidizing land and servicing costs.

“I want to recognize staff for their determination in coming up with a plan that helps BACI continue their excellent work while at the same time respecting the need for the City to be vigilant in managing these funds,” said Corrigan. “The Community Benefit Bonus Policy is doing exactly what it is intended to do – helping build a livable and inclusive community without burdening the taxpayer.”

The Community Benefit Bonus Policy enables the city to provide community benefits by permitting additional residential densities within Burnaby’s town centres. The density bonusing approach provides the City with important community benefits, such as parks and public gathering places, civic facilities, non-profit office spaces, affordable housing, cultural facilities, child care centres, and public realm and environmental enhancements. The Community Benefit Bonus Policy is one of the mechanisms available to the city to help finance and achieve community benefits that maintain and increase quality of life for Burnaby citizens.

NDP leads going into the final week, but the gap is narrowing: Forum Poll

2 May 2017

IN a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll among 1,067 British Columbia voters, amongst those and decided and leaning, the NDP (37%) has an eight-point lead over the governing Liberals (29%).

The Green Party has the support of a quarter (24%) of respondents, with (7%) saying they are supporting the Conservatives, and (3%) saying they support another party.

If the election were held today, the NDP would secure 47 seats, the Liberals 34 seats, the Green Party 4, with 2 going to other parties.

Respondents most likely to support the NDP include those 34 or younger (40%), 45-54 (38%), or 55-64 (38%), females (40%), earning $40,000-$60,000 (44%), $60,000-$80,000 (44%), or $80,000-$100,000, (43%) with a post-graduate degree (43%), and living on Vancouver Island (39%) or Vancouver / Lower Mainland (36%).

Respondents most likely to support the Liberals include those aged 65 and over (41%), males (32%), and the most wealthy (35%).

Respondents most likely to say they support the Green Party include those 34 and younger (30%) or 35-44 (31%), the least wealthy (30%) or earning $20,000-$40,000 (28%), and living on Vancouver Island (28%) and Interior North (25%).

Weaver most popular leader, Clark ticks up, Horgan ticks down

Just over a quarter (28%) approve of the job Christy Clark is doing as premier, 6-in-10 (62%) disapprove, and (11%) don’t know. Premier Clark’s net favourable score (approve – disapprove) is -34, slightly better than the beginning of April (April 5: -36).

Just under a third (31%) approve of NDP Leader John Horgan’s job as the leader of the opposition, a similar proportion (34%) disapprove, and (35%) don’t know. Horgan’s net favourable score is -3, down five points since early April (April 5: +2).

Four-in-10 (42%) approve of Andrew Weaver’s job as the leader of the Green Party, 17% disapprove, and 40% don’t know. Weaver’s net favourable score is +25, an increase of 11 points since early April (April 5th: +14).

Best Premier tied between Horgan and Clark

A quarter (25%) of respondents say, regardless of their party affiliation, that John Horgan would make the best Premier of BC, which is a statistical tie with Christy Clark (24%). Andrew Weaver (21%) is third, just behind the pair. Sixteen per cent say they don’t know, with 15% saying none of the above would make the best premier.

“We’re beginning to see a considerable increase in support for the Green Party, and the favourability of their popular leader Andrew Weaver is well ahead of either of his main opponents. What remains to be seen, however, is how this surge in Green Party support will affect the final count on election day,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research.

Inc.

Jaswant Gill gets life in prison for murder of Thomas Akerman, but found not criminally responsible for slaying wife

2 May 2017

JASWANT Singh Gill, who was also found guilty in the first-degree murder of Thomas Eldon Akerman, 26, in December 1994 by a Supreme Court jury, has been sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years.

However, Gill, who had been found guilty of manslaughter in connection with his wife Gurpreet (Ruby) Gill, 33, back in February 2006 on Valentine’s Day by the jury on April 1, was later held not criminally responsible for the slaying because of a mental disorder. The jury has been called back to the court in connection with that issue after it had rendered its decision. Gill had initially been charged with second-degree murder in the slaying.

Court had heard that Gill told an undercover police officer posing as the leader of a crime group, that people kept telling him to get rid of his wife.

He said his parents told him to get rid of the relationship and when he confronted his wife, she just kept cursing his mother, wishing the most evil things on her. He said the fight ended up in twisting her neck.

After he had killed his wife, he stored her body in the refrigerator after placing it in a plastic bag, He then disposed of her body on military lands in Richmond with the help of another man, he told the police officer.

Gurpreet Gill came to Canada from India after an arranged marriage with her husband in 2000.

Her mother reported her missing to the Vancouver police in 2006 and a missing person’s case was started. It led to a homicide investigation.

Gill also told the police officer that he had shot Akerman in a vehicle near Metrotown and said that it was about greed. He said that the message was to get rid of those who were going to make it harder for your families later on, the court had heard.

NDP: Former premier Bill Vander Zalm says Christy Clark will bring back value added tax

2 May 2017

AFTER Premier Christy Clark said multiple times she was considering bringing back a value added tax like the HST, she quickly attempted to backtrack in the face of increasing pressure on Monday, the NDP pointed out on Tuesday.
After Clark gave two opposing positions in less than two hours, anti-HST leader and former Premier Bill Vander Zalm wasn’t buying it:
“The VAT, the HST, they are the same thing. Of course they are going to do it – the business community wants it. But they won’t say anything before the election.” (to Globe and Mail, May 1)
“We can’t trust the government, they’ve lied to us so many times… I’ll be there to fight it again.” (on Jon McComb Show, May 2nd)
And Christy Clark’s corporate backers have already started calling on her to bring back a value added tax, despite her last minute promise not to.
BC Chamber of Commerce President Val Litwin was asked whether he thought Clark should ignore her promise and bring back a value added tax. He said: “certainly I hope the intent is there.” (Jon McComb Show, May 2)
Greg D’Avignon, president of the Business Council of BC – the organization leading the charge to implement a new value added tax that will shift billions in taxes from businesses to people – suggested Clark should still bring in a VAT, telling the Globe that he hopes the next government will be open to a broader tax reform agenda.
A value added tax would shift taxes from business to people and would cost the typical family $1,000 more each year.
The NDP said that British Columbians deserve some answers from Christy Clark:

After saying multiple times that you’re considering bringing back a value added tax, why did you change your answer?
How is your new promise any different from the one your party broke in 2009?
A value added tax would mean a multi-billion dollar tax shift from business to people. Are you hiding your plans from British Columbians because you know they don’t support that?

Trump administration pledges to act against hate crimes

2 May 2017

Washington (PTI): The Trump administration on Tuesday pledged to work against recent surge in hate crimes, including those against the Hindu and Sikh communities, and said it has established a task force subcommittee to look into the issue and submit its recommendations.

“The Attorney General (Jeff Sessions) has made fighting violent crime one of his top priorities,” Eric Treene, special counsel for religious discrimination civil rights division at the Department of Justice, told the Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing on increase in religious hate crime.

One category of violent crimes are those based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and similar factors generally known by the shorthand hate crimes, Treene said, adding that addressing hate crimes must be part of our national effort to reduce violent crime.

In February, Sessions established a task force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety. The task force has a Hate Crimes Subcommittee, which will develop a plan to address hate crimes to better protect the rights of all Americans.

On June 29, the Hate Crimes Subcommittee will hold an additional one day summit focusing solely on identifying, prosecuting, and preventing hate crimes.

In his testimony, the Justice Department official referred to the several instances of hate crimes against the Indian-Americans.

“An arrest has been made in the Kansas City shooting the President referenced, in which two Indian-American men were shot, one fatally. That investigation is ongoing,” he said.

Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said religious hate crimes are on the rise.

“Crimes against Jews are the most common religious hate crimes and they have increased. Religious hate crimes against Muslims are the fastest growing category. These crimes increased by 67 per cent between 2014 and 2015, the last year for which FBI figures are available,” Grassley said.

Asserting that fear for practicing one’s religion should never happen in this country, Grassley said that government action to enforce the First Amendment s guarantee of free exercise of religion is necessary if these rights are to be protected against those who commit hate crimes.

Too many people in this country feel unwelcome, unsafe, said Indian-American Vanita Gupta, a former civil rights official at the Justice Department under Obama administration.

“Ultimately eliminating prejudice in the US will require that Americans develop respect for cultural differences and establish dialogue across racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious boundaries,” she said, adding education, awareness, and acceptance of group differences are the cornerstones of a solution to prejudice, discrimination, and bigotry in the US.

From the tragic shooting of two Indians in Kansas to mosque arsons and synagogue vandalism to the defacing of a Maryland church, an alarming number of gut-wrenching incidents of hate-motivated violence have shaken the public, Gupta said.

“It is incumbent upon all of us to reduce hate violence and bias-motivated incidents. Hate crimes have been referred to as this country’s original form of domestic terrorism,” Gupta said in her testimony.

“There is no question that many South Asians, Sikhs, and people of other faiths are targeted because people believe they are Muslim. However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that many people are also targeted because of their actual identity,” she said.

Sikhs, for example, may be mistaken as Muslims, but they also have a long history in this country and in others of facing persecution and discrimination, Gupta said.

Dr. Prabhjot Singh, a Sikh American who has experienced hate violence first hand, said while it is clear that Sikh Americans are not alone in experiencing a rise in hate crimes, the experience of the community is important to understand how dangerous this current era of inflammatory rhetoric promises to be if action is not taken.

According to Sikh Coalition surveys published between 2008 and 2010, approximately 10 per cent of Sikh respondents in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area reported that they had experienced assaults or property damage because of their religion, he said.

“Ominously, the Sikh Coalition has consistently found that a majority of Sikh students in our nation s public schools experience bias-based bullying and harassment,” Singh said, adding that Sikh Americans are as vulnerable as ever to hate crimes.

In his testimony, Singh recommended that hate crime reporting should be mandatory, not voluntary.

“We cannot address what we do not know. As a physician, I can attest that mandatory data reporting is crucial when the scope of a challenge is unknown and solutions are urgently needed,” he said.

“Words matter. Politicians must hold each other accountable for putting their constituents in danger. It seems fashionable these days for politicians to scapegoat immigrants and Muslims, but this endangers all of us. My personal experience with hate violence is a case in point. Please hold each other accountable and make it stop, Singh said.

Panama case: Pakistan Supreme Court sets up special cell for facilitating JIT

2 May 2017

Islamabad (PTI): Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday set up a special cell to help constitute the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family’s alleged corruption in the Panama Papers case.
The Supreme Court Additional Registrar Mohammad Ali was appointed as the coordinator and would be responsible for facilitating all communication between the JIT and the Supreme Court bench.
The six-member JIT would be constituted at the earliest, as Justice Ejaz Afzal, who is a main member of the Supreme Court bench, has returned from Turkey, GEO TV reported.
In its April 20 judgment, the apex court had ordered the formation of the JIT to probe offshore assets of the prime minister and his two sons.
Sharif, 67, had got a temporary breather from the Supreme Court which said there was “insufficient evidence” to remove him from office but ordered setting up of a JIT to probe the graft allegations against his family.
The high-profile graft case is about alleged money laundering by Sharif in 1990s when he twice served as the Prime Minister to purchase assets in London. Information about the assets surfaced when Panama Papers last year showed that they were managed through offshore companies owned by Sharif’s children.
Prime Minister Sharif has denied any wrongdoing since the scandal first surfaced.
The JIT would comprise representatives from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), as well as officials from the Military Intelligence and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The JIT would submit its report on the progress in the probe to the coordinator every 15 days.
The team would begin the investigation as soon as it is constituted. The Supreme Court has tasked the team to submit a report every two weeks to a special bench of the apex court.
It has also been given a 60-day deadline to file its final report.
It is rare and unprecedented that a sitting prime minister would be quizzed by officials from civil and military institutions for his offshore companies, the Dawn newspaper commented.
The scandal involving the Sharif family first surfaced when documents from a Panamanian legal firm was leaked by a consortium of international investigative journalists in April last year.

Modi conveys concerns over visa issue to Australian counterpart

2 May 2017

New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday conveyed to his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull India’s concerns about the impact of the recent decision to abolish a popular work visa used by a majority of Indians.

Modi conveyed the concerns during a phone call initiated by Turnbull, a PMO statement said.
“Prime Minister Modi expressed concern about the possible impact of the recent changes in Australian regulations for the skilled professionals visa programme,” the statement said.
The two Prime Ministers agreed that officials from both sides will remain in close touch on the issue, it added.
About three weeks ago, Turnbull had announced his decision to abolish the 457 visa, which allows businesses to hire foreign workers for up to four years in skilled jobs.
“We are an immigration nation, but the fact remains: Australian workers must have priority for Australian jobs, so we are abolishing the 457 visa,” he had said.
A majority of those using the visa program are Indians.
During the telephonic conversation, Turnbull thanked Modi for the success of his recent visit to India.
“The two Prime Ministers also discussed the follow-up action taken after the visit of Mr. Turnbull to India last month, and the steps required to further strengthen the bilateral relationship,” the PMO statement said.

Soldiers’ beheading: India warns Pak army as it denies its involvement

2 May 2017

New Delhi / Islamabad (PTI): India on Tuesday warned Pakistan of an “unequivocal response” to the beheading of its two soldiers on the Indian side of the Line of Control, a charge rejected by Islamabad which sought “actionable evidence” from New Delhi to back its claim.
As the families of slain Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh and BSF Head Constable Prem Singh bid a tearful farewell to them, anguish and indignation prevailed across the country, plunging the relations between the two nations to a new low and reviving calls for a “befitting reply”.
India’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen A K Bhatt spoke to his Pakistani counterpart this morning to express his “grave concern” over the killing and beheading of the two soldiers in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.
“The DGMO of the Indian Army conveyed that such a dastardly and inhuman act is beyond any norms of civility and merits unequivocal condemnation and response,” the Indian Army said in a statement.
The DGMO conveyed to his Pakistani counterpart that “full fire” support was provided by the Pakistani Army post located close to where the incident took place.
The army said the DGMO also conveyed India’s concern about the presence of Border Action Team (BAT) training camps in close vicinity of the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
Discussing the issue during the hotline contact between the two DGMOs, the Pakistan Army asked India to produce “actionable evidence” on its claim that a Pakistani special forces team had sneaked across the LoC and beheaded the two Indian security personnel.
“Pakistan rejected India’s allegations of ceasefire violation and mutilation of bodies of Indian soldiers,” the army statement said.
“The Pakistan army is a professional military outfit and upholds the highest standards of conduct. Allegations of mutilation are an Indian attempt to divert the attention of world from situation within the Kashmir valley,” Pakistan DGMO Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza claimed.
The denials had little impact at Vainpoin village in Punjab, where 42-year-old Paramjeet Singh was laid to rest with full military honours.
As buglers sounded the “last post” and his body, wrapped in the tricolour, was brought for cremation, his relatives insisted that they be shown the body. Finally, the ceremony went ahead after civil and army officials intervened.
His wife Paramjit Kaur demanded that the Centre give a “free hand” to the army so that Pakistan is taught a lesson.
“Our government had once said that if Pakistan kills or beheads our one soldier, as many as ten enemy soldiers will meet the same fate, but what is happening now? If the government cannot teach Pakistan a lesson, then they should allow me to take revenge of my husband’s killing,” she said.
While “shaheed Paramjeet amar rahe” cries echoed in the air so did slogans “Pakistan murdabad”.
Pakistani flags were also burnt at some places in Punjab, including at Ludhiana, where protesters demanded that Pakistan should be paid back in the same coin.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which the beheading issue is understood to have figured. However, there was no official word on it.
Paying tribute to the two soldiers at the New Delhi airport, where the body of Prem Sagar was brought before being taken to his home in Uttar Pradesh, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said, “The nation is with the families of the soldiers who lost their lives in ceasefire violation by the Pakistan army.”
The savage incident also set off a spat between parties across the political divide.
A day after the incident triggered outrage, Congress mounted a scathing assault on the Modi government, asking it to “take off the bangles” and avenge the killing of Indian security personnel. Bangles are considered a sign of femininity.
“It is unfortunate that prime minister and the government do not have any policy on national security…We urge this government to take off its bangles and do something,” Sibal said in New Delhi.
He also attacked the government over the additional charge of defence ministry to finance minister Arun Jaitley, saying there cannot be an effective defence policy without a full-time minister.
Former defence minister and senior Congress leader A K Antony echoed the anguish and told reporters that the army should be given a “free hand” to act against those behind the mutilation of the two soldiers.
After India’s DGMO’s tough talk about a “response” to the brazen slaughter of two soldiers, union minister M Venkaiah Naidu called Pakistan a “rogue” state and spoke of reprisal.
Responding to the opposition’s comments questioning the political will of the government to take military action against Pakistan, Naidu said, “There is will, there is kill.”
“We are very firm, we will do whatever is possible, and the government is already at it, and you will hear about it,” Naidu told journalists in Bengaluru.
“It (the act of mutilation) is condemnable …it is not right to make public statements on what the response should be… the defence minister has made a statement. You will get the information with confirmation on what the result will be,” he said.
The government came under fire also from its old saffron ally Shiv Sena, with its senior leader and Maharashtra minister Ramdas Kadam asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “sit up and think”.
“After one surgical strike by us, they (Pakistan) have killed our soldiers ten times more. The prime minister should sit up and think how to avenge it,” he said in Mumbai.
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asserted the sacrifice made by the fallen soldiers would not go in vain. “The army has vowed to take effective action….we should trust our security forces.”
Amid the political wrangling, Jammu and Kashmir governor N N Vora met home minister Rajnath Singh and discussed the situation obtaining in the restive valley as also along the LoC.
Apart from issues like infiltration from across the border, the activities of separatists and violent protests by students, the situation along the LoC after the killing of two soldiers was also discussed.

Shaheen Tasewar Hussain sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison for food stamp fraud

2 May 2017

Baltimore, Maryland: On April 27, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett last week sentenced Shaheen Tasewar Hussain, 61, of Columbia, Maryland to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to illegally redeem food stamp benefits in exchange for cash. Bennett also ordered Hussain to pay restitution in the amount of $778,183.00.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as the Food Stamp Program, is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), together with state agencies. The program funds low-income individuals to allow them to obtain a more nutritious diet. In Maryland, the program provides eligible individuals with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card called the Independence Card, which operates like a debit card. Recipients obtain EBT cards through the state Department of Human Resources, then use the EBT card to purchase approved food items from participating retailers.

Retailers must apply to and be approved by FNS to participate in the program. Authorized retailers use a point-of-sale terminal that checks the EBT card information and deducts the cash value of the purchase from the customer’s SNAP benefit balance. SNAP reimbursements are paid to retailers through electronic funds transfers. Retailers may bill the government only in return for providing approved food items.

Hussain was the owner of Safe #7, Inc. d/b/a Shop & Save (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “the store” or “Shop & Save”), which was a convenience store located at 301 Crain Highway South, Suite D in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Hussain, through the store, participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.

According to her plea agreement, from July 2011 through August 2016, Hussain redeemed EBT benefits at the Shop & Save in exchange for cash in violation of the food stamp program rules and regulations. Hussain paid individuals presenting SNAP benefits cash in exchange for their benefits and kept up to 50 percent of the benefits for the store. As a result of these unlawful transactions, Hussain obtained more than $778,183 in EBT deposits for food sales that never actually occurred. Hussain knew that exchanging cash for EBT benefits was in violation of the laws, rules and regulations regarding the food stamp program and that she was not entitled to the EBT deposits made by FNS into the bank account for Safe #7, Inc.

In September 2011, months after being permanently disqualified from the SNAP program for violating FNS regulations, Hussain used a straw owner to submit an application to license Shop and Save to participate in the food stamp program. FNS approved the form which had been signed by another individual other than Hussain and licensed Shop & Save as a SNAP retailer. Hussain, however, subsequently operated Shop & Save.

Hussain was observed by law enforcement working the cash register and personally trafficking SNAP benefits in exchange for giving reduced cash payments to EBT cardholders. Between April 2015 through September 2015, agents working in an undercover capacity entered Shop and Save multiple times and asked to sell food stamp benefits in exchange for cash. Hussain was working behind the register each time and agreed to the transactions. For example, on April 14, 2015, Hussain swiped the undercover agent’s SNAP benefit EBT card twice, charging $75.02 for the first transaction and $25.60 on the second transaction just seconds later for a total of $100.62. In exchange, the Defendant gave the undercover agent $60 in cash.

On each of the occasions, Hussain did not sell the undercover agent any eligible food items. Hussain also broke up these transactions into increments of less than $100, because she knew that transactions over $100 for such a small store would likely alert law enforcement that she was trafficking SNAP benefits in exchange for cash.

On August 30, 2015, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Shop & Save. Officers discovered that the vast majority of the food items at the store were expired, covered in dust, spoiled by pests, and not amenable for human consumption.