Michael Paul Atkinson, Jr. Food Stamp Fraud, Georgia 2016

MACON, Ga. – In a shocking display of audacity, Michael Paul Atkinson, Jr., 37, of Hampton, Georgia, has been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a brazen $5.1 million food stamp fraud scheme.

Atkinson, who operated Mid Way Market in Macon, Georgia, from 2010 through March 2015, paid beneficiaries in cash to redeem SNAP benefits and allowed them to use those benefits to purchase non-allowed items.

According to U.S. Attorney John Horn, Atkinson also taught other workers at Mid Way how to process fraudulent claims, resulting in the SNAP program paying over $5.1 million in redemptions to Mid Way that should not have been paid.

“The defendant used the food stamp program as an ATM,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn. “Food stamps provide needed assistance to the most vulnerable citizens in our society. Schemes like these unfortunately divert critical resources away from the people who need them most.”

Atkinson was convicted on these charges on March 31, 2016, after he pleaded guilty. He also agreed that his home was subject to forfeiture because it was purchased with proceeds from the fraud. His house has been forfeited to the United States.

“USDA-OIG stands firm in its mission to safeguard program benefits,” stated Karen Citizen-Wilcox, Special Agent-in-Charge, USDA OIG-Investigations. “The prosecution of Atkinson serves as a message to those who operate businesses for the purposes of defrauding USDA programs and taxpayers that USDA-OIG will work with its federal, state and local law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute you.”

Atkinson was sentenced to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,141,520.28. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia is recused from this case. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Special Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Huber prosecuted the case.

For further information, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

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