ATLANTA ( InvestigateTV ) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suspects taxpayer dollars stolen from government food assistance accounts are severely underreported, estimating the real number reaches about $12 billion annually.

Our investigators spoke with the USDA’s lead investigator for federal food assistance fraud in a rare sit-down interview.

“They’re taking it to the next level every day,” said Mark Haskins, branch chief of the special investigations unit for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service .

Haskins said Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud has been increasing, but hit all-time highs since January.

“It could be as high as $12 billion a year,” Haskins said.

Reporting discrepancies reveal scope of problem

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