Buffalo Man Sentenced for Food Stamp Fraud

         BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that  Riyadh Almadrahi, 35, of  Lackawanna, N.Y., who was convicted of food stamp fraud, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $143,700 to the United States Department of Agriculture.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Moscati, who handled the case, stated that Almadrahi participated in the operation of a deli known as Zip's Food and Beverage at 896 Niagara Street in Buffalo. The defendant and others exchanged customer's food stamp benefits for cash in violation of the rules governing the food stamp program. In less than a two year period, Almadrahi acquired approximately $143,700 through these fraudulent transactions.

            The sentencing is the result of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General; Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Lanser; Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero; and the New York State Police, Special Investigations Unit, under the direction of Lieutenant Joseph Scioli.