3 from tavern accused of food stamp fraud

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The owner of a Green Bay tavern and two former bartenders are facing food stamp fraud charges.

Authorities say  Billy Goats Pub was buying food stamp cards for half price and using the cards to buy pizza and other food for the bar. Investigators say some of the food would go back to customers for free, in hopes of generating business.

The Wisconsin QUEST cards can be used to buy groceries as part of the state's low-income FoodShare program. A criminal complaint filed in Brown County charges former owner  Sue Long and employees  Jodie Hanback and Victoria Cannon with multiple counts of food stamp fraud.

WLUK-TV ( http://bit.ly/18nowME ) says Long has surrendered her liquor license. Long told investigator she believed she was helping QUEST card holders by giving them money they could use for medication, diapers or their children's clothes.