Deli Shop Operator Pleads Guilty to Food Stamp Fraud

Buffalo, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Yousef Yafai, 31 of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara, to unauthorized acquisition of food stamp benefits. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant operated a deli shop known as Hollywood Nights Prime Shop on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo. Between October 2008 and January 2011, Yafai knowingly purchased, from food stamp recipients, food stamp benefits in exchange for cash at less than their full value.

The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of William G. Squires Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region.