BUFFALO, N.Y. - Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Shuja Alawdi, 40, of Buffalo NY, who was convicted of unauthorized use of food stamp benefits, was sentenced to six months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $124,406.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Lamarque and Scott S. Allen, who handled the case, stated that the defendant participated in the operation of the Bailey Food Mart, located at 3209 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Between July 2010 and August 2011, the defendant, and others, knowingly purchased, for cash, food stamp benefits for less than their full value from eligible beneficiaries. Retailers are prohibited from exchanging cash for food stamps. During that time period, the defendant and others exchanged approximately $124,406 of food stamp benefits for cash.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge William G. Squires Jr. and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
