Nichole Bires, Theft of Government Property, Pennsylvania 2009

PITTSBURGH – A brazen scheme to defraud the food stamp program has landed a local fish store manager in hot water.

Nichole Bires, 36, the manager of H&H Fish Market in McKeesport, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of theft of government property.

According to court documents, Bires engaged in a scheme to exchange customers’ food stamp benefits for cash on a discounted basis, usually giving them only 50 cents on the dollar. This scheme was in direct violation of the rules and regulations of the USDA’s food stamp program, which prohibits the exchange of food stamp benefits for cash and/or ineligible items.

H&H Fish Market began participating in the food stamp program in October 2009, and Bires was aware of the program’s rules at the time. Despite this knowledge, she continued to engage in the scheme, putting the integrity of the program at risk.

The indictment was the result of a joint investigation by the Office of the Inspector General for the United States Department of Agriculture, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Bires is scheduled to be sentenced on August 26, 2014, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The bond of the defendant has been continued pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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