Greece Man Sentenced For Food Stamp Fraud

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Mohammad Qadi, 35, of Greece, N.Y., who was convicted of unlawful use and acquisition of food stamp benefits and mail fraud, was sentenced to three years supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $75,744 by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa J. Miller, who handled the case, stated that between November 2008 and July 2010, the defendant fraudulently acquired and possessed more than $120,000 in food stamp benefits issued by the United States Department of Agriculture. Qadi did so while operating Nick’s Super Store, which was then located at 460 Monroe Avenue in Rochester.

Food stamp benefits were issued by the Food and Nutrition Service Agricultural Department through New York State’s social service agencies to eligible beneficiaries. The beneficiaries were required to purchase eligible food items with the benefits. Instead, the defendant purchased the food stamp benefits for less than their full value by swiping the benefits cards through the terminal at Nick’s Super Store and then giving the food stamp card holders cash equal to 50% of the value of the benefits. Qadi also falsely represented to an insurance company that he was injured and unable to work while he was employed and working at Nick’s Super Store.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the USDA-Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent William G. Squires, Jr., and Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.