Republican candidates for Massachusetts governor sharply criticized the Healey administration this week following federal charges against two Boston men accused of defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of nearly $7 million.

Federal prosecutors say that Antonio Bonheur, 74, of Mattapan, and Saul Alisme, 21, of Hyde Park, operated small neighborhood retail stores that generated unusually high SNAP redemption volumes that far exceeded what could reasonably be supported by legitimate food sales. Both men were charged with one count of food stamp fraud and arrested earlier this week, as NewBostonPost previously reported.

The case drew swift reaction from Republicans seeking to challenge Governor Maura Healey, a Democrat, in 2026. The GOP candidates argued that the fraud reflects broader failures in state oversight and accountability.

Former Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development and Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy said he found the report "deeply troubling."

“The SNAP fraud uncovered by U.S. Attorney Leah Foley is deeply troubling and demands a broader investigation," Kennealy told NewBostonPost via email. "This scheme operated for years under Governor Healey’s watch. It is a betrayal of taxpayers and of families who genuinely rely on SNAP. Massachusetts taxpayers deserve accountability — and under my administration, they will get it.”

Brian Shortsleeve, a Republican candidate for governor and former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority chief administrator, placed the blame squarely on the Healey administration.

“Under Governor Healey, corruption and scandal has become a normal part of living in Massachusetts,” Shortsleeve said in a Facebook statement. “If she did her job and committed to rooting out waste and fraud from our state agencies, the Federal government wouldn't have had to step in.”

“As governor, I will immediately audit all state agencies and put a stop to scandals like this before they spiral out of control,” he added.

Republican businessman and gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue also raised concerns about the scale of SNAP spending in Massachusetts and the potential consequences of inadequate oversight.

“Massachusetts receives roughly $3 billion a year in federal SNAP funding, and cases like this raise serious concerns about how well those dollars are being protected,” Minogue said in a press release emailed to NewBostonPost.

Minogue tied the fraud to a broader dispute between Massachusetts and federal officials over data-sharing requirements for SNAP eligibility.

“What makes this even more troubling is that the Governor is now risking SNAP benefits altogether by refusing to provide required identification and benefit data,” he said. “We need to eliminate waste and fraud in Massachusetts and America.”

He warned that failing to cooperate with federal oversight could ultimately jeopardize the program for families who depend on it.

“Massachusetts families are already struggling with affordability,” Minogue said. “Allowing waste and fraud to persist puts essential assistance at risk and undermines public trust.”

The federal case says that the defendants’ small storefronts redeemed between $100,000 and $500,000 per month in SNAP benefits, rivaling or exceeding nearby full-service supermarkets. Prosecutors say undercover agents also documented SNAP benefits being exchanged for cash and ineligible items, including alcohol.

If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison, supervised release, and fines of up to $250,000.

Healey's office could not be immediately reached for comment on Friday.