If you are convicted of trafficking in food assistance benefits of $500 or more, you will be disqualified permanently. Trafficking of food assistance includes:

  1. Buying, selling, stealing, or exchanging benefits for cash;
  2. Exchanging firearms, ammunition, explosives, or illegal drugs for benefits;
  3. Buying sodas, water, or other items in a container to get the cash deposit;
  4. Buying an item with food assistance and then purposely selling the item for cash; and
  5. Trading cash for items paid for with food assistance benefits.  If you are convicted of these acts, depending on the severity, you may be fined up to $250,000, imprisoned for up to 20 years, or both.