BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Bandar Alsaidi, 28, and his brother, Talal Alsaidi, 31, both of Buffalo, who were convicted of unauthorized use of food stamp benefits, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Bandar Alsaidi was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Talal Alsaidi was sentenced to two years of probation with five months of home detention. Both defendants were ordered to make restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the amount of $147,658.28 for a total of 295,316.56.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that the Alsaidi brothers participated in the operation of the business known as Big Boys Food Market located at 1129 East Ferry Street in Buffalo. On Nov. 18, 2011, Bandar Alsaidi signed an application to accept food stamps as the sole proprietor of Big Boys. The application was authorized on Jan. 18, 2012. With this approval, retailers are prohibited from exchanging cash for food stamps.
Between April 2012 and May 2013, the defendants, and others, knowingly purchased food stamp benefits for less than their full value for cash from eligible beneficiaries. The defendants, and others, engaged in approximately $671,174 of legitimate and illegitimate transactions for the time period in question. Of this total value, each defendant knew that approximately $147,658.28 of their acquisition or possession of food stamp benefits was unauthorized.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the USDA, Office of Inspector General under the direction of Special Agent in Charge William G. Squires Jr. and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
