Rochester business owner pleads guilty to food stamp fraud

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Zina Amba Mbile Mbile, 45, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to food stamp fraud before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) uses federal tax dollars to help low-income individuals purchase food. Eligible individuals are provided with a debit card from which they can make food purchases at authorized food stores. Businesses authorized to accepts SNAP benefits, can only do so for the sale of eligible food products. It is unlawful to accept SNAP benefits for non-food items such as cigarettes, beer, or for cash. Between March 1, 2020, and July 23, 2024, Mbile, who operated the Beni Food convenience store on Dewey Avenue in Rochester, accepted SNAP benefits from customers in exchange for non-food items, such as cosmetic products. Mbile also exchanged cash for food stamp benefits, resulting in a profit for Mbile. In total, Mbile fraudulently caused $246,890.00 to be deposited into Beni Food’s bank accounts for food that was never purchased.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Charmeka Parker, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Monroe County Department of Human Services, under the direction of Commissioner Thalia Wright.      

Sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2025, before Judge Wolford.

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