Erie Convenience Store Owner Sentenced to Probation, Ordered to Pay Restitution for Food Stamp Fraud Scheme

ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 30 months probation and ordered to make $49,617.00 in restitution on his conviction of theft of government property, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on James Hunter, Jr., 39.

According to information presented to the court, from July 2012 to June 2015, Hunter, who was the owner and operator of Melo’s Stop N Shops in Erie, committed food stamp fraud by accepting food stamps and WIC checks for cash or ineligible items such as cigarettes.

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Brady commended the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Erie Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Hunter.