Commentary by: Fraud comes in all shapes and sizes and it also comes – as this story from the Associated Press illustrates – at varying degrees of athletic ability. At the heart of the story are “as many as” two dozen football players from Fresno State University who according to ABC-30 Television have been accused of receiving benefits totaling $39,267. Not an exceptionally large number when we’re so often talking about millions and millions, but here’s the kicker: that’s money which was supposed to go to people in the county’s Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. That’s right, food stamps.
But the really troublesome thing about this story – which is chiefly concerned with the fate of the football players – is the conclusion it reaches: their actions are not violations of the NCAA because the fraud wasn’t a special privilege gained because they were football players. No. Apparently there were many more Fresno residents and those even beyond Fresno who now stand accused.
No program is invulnerable – even food stamps are a target. Public officials take note: this is only the tip of the iceberg.
