WCHS Eyewitness News Home Charleston Eyewitness Newsroom Charleston Storm Team Weather Sports News TV Program Schedule Community Mobile-Cellphone and PDA Get Connected SMS Text Facebook Twitter RSS News Feed Email List


FOOD STAMP FRAUD
Council Deems Building "Public Nuisance"

Reported by: Send eMail Darrah Wilcox
Web Producer: Bethany Simmons
Reported: Apr. 24, 2012 8:34 AM EDT
Updated: Apr. 24, 2012 6:25 PM EDT


Eyewitness News Photo
Eyewitness News Photo


Huntington , Cabell County , West Virginia

Council voted unanimously Monday night on the measure deem Sunoco on 20th Street, most recently known as the All In One, a public nuisance. "I mean we want to give everyone the benefit of a doubt, but at times, at some point the government has to step in and do something about these nuisances," says council member Mark Bates.

That store was the focus of numerous crime investigations including food stamp fraud. There were reportedly more than 600 police calls and criminal incidents in that time frame. After police and federal agents raided the business in February, those calls have reduced a reported 80-90 percent. Bates says, "To the best of the police department's knowledge, we haven't displaced it somewhere else."

Federal and state agents shut down the store back in February for allegedly abusing the state's new food stamp program.

Four people -- Abe Eloirzazi, Stephanie Pauley, Cynthia Gibson, and Abe Owayda were all arrested for their part in the alleged scheme earlier this year.

Pauley plead guilty in federal court just last week. Prosecutors say she and two co-defendants, one of them her husband and the former owner of the All In One, redeemed close to $130,000 worth of illegal food stamp benefits at that store between June 2010 and January 2012.

Eloirzazi, Gibson, and Owayda are all awaiting trial. Pauley will be sentenced in July.

Bates says, "Folks were concerned for their kids to be outside playing. There were concerns for people even driving by the property."

Now, Christy Cabell feels okay letting her eight children play outside. "It has changed for the better. I definitely feel safe for my kids to come out and play now."

Folks are anxious to see something else go in at that spot... Some options they've thought of include a new, safer food mart. Chataun Courts says, "It's getting ready to be summertime. They got popsicles, pop, something for the kids to snack on while they're outside playing."

Cabell and her two girls, Corrina and Nakiyah, say a park would be good for the neighborhood. "We want a park. Something for the kids. Some kind of activity center or something."

If anything does replace the old food mart, these neighbors just hope it's safer and cleaner.



MORE NEWS FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
BELLE FIRE
Investigators Say Belle Fire Appears To Be Arson
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 18, 2013 10:17 PM EDT
A fire destroyed a trailer in Belle Friday night, and ...
Full News Story and Video

DIABETES FUNDRAISER
Empty Glass Event To Benefit Diabetes Foundation
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 18, 2013 9:04 PM EDT
You can listen to some good music while supporting ...
Full News Story

ARMED FORCES DAY
Vegas Icon Helps To Honor Local Armed Forces Members
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 18, 2013 8:33 PM EDT
People around the country took time Saturday to honor ...
Full News Story and Video



News Powerball Jackpot Stands At $600 Million
May. 18, 2013 8:58 PM EDT
News Dunbar Events Get Families Back To The Park
May. 18, 2013 9:00 PM EDT
News Kanawha Grand Jury Returns Indictments
May. 18, 2013 6:34 PM EDT
News Police Investigating Robbery At Embassy Suites
May. 18, 2013 6:35 PM EDT
News South Charleston Officials Moving Forward With Bond Sale
May. 18, 2013 9:00 PM EDT
News Book Examines Legal Fights Surrounding Blankenship
May. 18, 2013 10:44 PM EDT
News Several Bear Sightings Reported In South Charleston
May. 18, 2013 8:59 PM EDT
News Boyd County Deputies Bust Nine Meth Labs, Eight In One Home
May. 18, 2013 6:35 PM EDT
News WV Agency Hands Out All Available Reunion Kits
May. 18, 2013 4:53 PM EDT
News New Coin Commemorates WV 150th Birthday
May. 18, 2013 8:59 PM EDT
News 3-D Printers An Emerging Industry
May. 18, 2013 4:11 PM EDT
News 20 Seniors Could Be In Trouble Over Wayne High Vandalism
May. 18, 2013 2:37 AM EDT
News Man Arrested After Allegedly Making Young Girls Pose Provocatively In Front Of Webcam
May. 17, 2013 11:33 PM EDT
News Five Injured In Wyoming County Accident
May. 17, 2013 10:56 PM EDT
News Former Smithers Fire Chief Indicted
May. 17, 2013 10:57 PM EDT
News Clay County Man Indicted On Meth Charges
May. 18, 2013 2:18 AM EDT
News Top-Selling Comedians Perform In Huntington
May. 17, 2013 10:52 PM EDT
News 2,000 Take Part In Relay For Life
May. 18, 2013 2:27 AM EDT
News Make-A-Wish Sends Girl To Disney World
May. 18, 2013 2:28 AM EDT
News Crews Respond To Altizer Fire
May. 17, 2013 10:57 PM EDT
News Parents of Toddler Arrested, Charged With Meth-Making
May. 18, 2013 2:30 AM EDT
News Sissonville Man Beats The Odds
May. 17, 2013 6:42 PM EDT
News Cabell Huntington Observes EMS Week
May. 18, 2013 2:32 AM EDT
News Putnam Man Arrested On Meth Charges
May. 17, 2013 8:11 PM EDT
News Couple Arrested On Child Neglect Charges
May. 17, 2013 8:07 PM EDT
News Kasich To Alert Families To Execution Mercy
May. 17, 2013 5:55 PM EDT
News IRS Targeting Scandal Focus Of Poll
May. 17, 2013 5:28 PM EDT
News Unemployment Rates Fall In WV, Ohio In April
May. 17, 2013 4:53 PM EDT
News Huntington VA Medical Center Debuts New Women's Clinic
May. 18, 2013 2:14 AM EDT
News Herd Signs Basketball Recruit For Next Season
May. 17, 2013 4:21 PM EDT

Advertise on WCHS-TV Online

West Virginia News
Ex.-W.Va. fire chief indicted in funds probe

A grand jury in Fayette County has indicted the former chief of a volunteer fire department and his wife on felony charges related to allegedly taking department funds for personal use.
Full Story

Kentucky News
Murder charges dismissed in double slaying

Prosecutors have dropped murder charges against a migrant worker in the deaths of two unidentified people.
Full Story

Ohio News
Bloody trail in Ohio probe in 2 brothers' deaths

An arraignment is scheduled Tuesday for a 17-year-old charged in the deaths of two teenage brothers.
Full Story

Fugitive Files
Wanted: May. 14, 2013 You Can Help!
Fugitive Fugitive Fugitive Seen them? Call 888-720-TIPS
Details about these Fugitives

Behind The Kitchen Door
May 16, 2013
Shoney's-Charleston, Hibachi, Blues BBQ makes the list. Find out who has violations and who gets the Clean Kitchen Award!
Story and Video

2013 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | CURRENT
2012 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC







Fire!Fire!

Fugitive Files Tuesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

West Virginia Wildlife Wednesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

Newscast Scripts

ABC News web site





How To Contact WCHS-TV8 | Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Terms and Conditions | DMCA Policy | Frequently Asked Questions

Home | Eyewitness News Newsroom | Storm Team Weather | Eyewitness Sports | Schedules

Send Mail Send email to news@wchstv.com for information or comments concerning WCHS-TV Eyewitness News.

Copyright ©2013, WCHS-TV8. Portions are
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.