As 850,000 Virginians (and millions nationwide) went without food stamps this fall during the federal government shutdown, the giant reconciliation bill Congress passed this summer set off a timer for states to reduce their error rates in computing the disbursement of funds to recipients.

A Massachusetts native on the national frontline of targeting SNAP fraud says the Bay State's "lax controls" enabled an alleged operation that obtained nearly $7 million in benefits out of tiny storefronts in Boston.