Buffalo Man Sentenced For Food Stamp Fraud

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Ahmed Hassan, 67, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of food stamp fraud, was sentenced to two years probation including eight months home detention and ordered to pay restitution totaling $68,177 by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci.
 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti, who handled the case, stated that the defendant operated the Ferry Community Market on E. Ferry Street in Buffalo. Between June 1, 2012 and August 31, 2012, Hassan directed and authorized employees to purchase food stamp benefits for less than their full value for cash from eligible beneficiaries. By swiping the food stamp cards through the electronic funds transfer terminal installed at Ferry Community Market, employees engaged in approximately $68,177 of illegitimate transactions for the time period in question.
 
        The sentencing was the result of an investigation by Special Agents of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of William G. Squires Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region.