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Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Food Stamp Fraud
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Tofeek Albanna, 36, a Buffalo man, has pleaded guilty to food stamp fraud, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Albanna, the owner of LA Fashion in Lackawanna, N.Y. used his store as a front to exchange food stamp benefits for cash.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Moscati, Albanna engaged in illegal electronic food stamp transactions, exchanging food stamp benefits for cash and permitting the purchase of prohibited items in exchange for food stamp benefits. This scheme, which spanned 16 months, netted Albanna approximately $73,400 in fraudulent food stamp benefits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The investigation into Albanna’s scheme was a joint effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the New York State Police, Special Investigations Unit.
U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. praised the efforts of the agents involved in the case, saying that they had ‘diligently pursued the perpetrators of this crime, bringing them to justice.’
Albanna’s sentencing is scheduled for October 19, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Richard J. Arcara.
The case is a reminder of the importance of protecting the integrity of the food stamp program, which is designed to provide assistance to those in need. By committing these crimes, Albanna not only defrauded the government, but also potentially harmed those who rely on the program for support.
Tofeek Albanna’s actions are a stark reminder that no one is above the law, and those who engage in such egregious behavior will be held accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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