Oregon — An Italian man unlawfully residing in Oregon has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a sprawling, multi-state conspiracy that defrauded food assistance programs of more than $2.4 million.
Giovanni Spirea, 29, received a 24-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $61,874.32 in restitution.
From August 2023 through October 2024, Spirea and his co-conspirators used electronic skimmers to steal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. They then cloned Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards with the stolen data, buying thousands of dollars in baby formula, energy drinks, and other nonperishable food items from stores in Oregon, Washington, and California.
Investigators said the group accumulated more than 120,000 pounds of food, which was stored in homes and storage units before being resold on the black market in California.
“Protecting government-funded programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program isn’t just about preserving funds – it’s about safeguarding trust in a vital lifeline that millions of families depend on,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford.
USDA Inspector General Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Dionida praised the joint effort by law enforcement, noting the “relentless pursuit of justice” for those defrauding public benefits. Portland Police Chief Bob Day called the theft “a serious crime,” while Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller described Spirea as “one of the worst of the worst.”
Spirea was indicted in October 2024 on 16 counts, including Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Unauthorized Use of Access Devices. He pleaded guilty on July 30, 2025.
The case involved a coalition of federal, state, and local agencies, including the USDA OIG, HSI, U.S. Marshals Service, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon Department of Justice, and law enforcement partners from Washington and California.
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