Convenience Store Owner To Prison For Food Stamp Fraud

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A San Antonio convenience store owner must serve four years in federal prison and repay nearly $1.7 million for food stamp fraud.

Sunny Joseph of San Antonio was sentenced Monday. The 52-year-old owner of Picnic Food Mart in April pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

Prosecutors say the scam began in November 2009 and ran until March 2011. Joseph and his employees sold ineligible items, including tobacco and alcohol, to food stamp recipients.

Investigators say Joseph also allowed the swapping of government benefits for cash but charged an exchange fee of up to 42 cents per dollar.