In San Antonio today, the former owner of J.M. Food Mart in Seguin, Texas, admitted to collecting approximately $275,000 from a scheme to trade Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for ineligible items announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman.
Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge John Primomo this morning, 55-year-old Aijaz Aslam pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. By pleading guilty, Aslam admitted that from November 2009 until May 2013, he conducted materially fraudulent transactions by selling ineligible items such as alcohol and tobacco products to SNAP beneficiaries using their Lone Star Cards at the point of sale. Aslam also admitted that he fraudulently traded SNAP benefits for cash while generally charging SNAP beneficiaries up to double the amount of cash received.
Aslam faces up to 20 years in federal prison. He is currently on bond pending sentencing scheduled for March 2, 2015, before United Stated District Judge David A. Ezra.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Assistant United States Attorney Thomas P. Moore is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
