ALBANY, N.Y. — A Long Island convenience store owner was convicted of stealing more than $668,000 from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to CSPnet.com.
Some of the funds stolen were emergency monies set aside for Hurricane Sandy victims, noted the article.
Ravinder Parkash and his wife Prabha Rani pleaded guilty to grand larceny, falsifying business records, misusing food stamps and conspiracy, noted the article. Parkash also admitted to money laundering in the second degree.
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Parkash will spend one and a third to four years in prison, stated the article. Rani will serve 60 days in jail and five years on probation.
The couple’s corporation, Shivani Enterprises, also pleaded guilty to several charges including grand larceny in the second degree, reported the article.
“Parkash and Rani paid SNAP recipients 50 [percent] of the value of their SNAP benefits in cash, then charged the USDA the full value of the phony transaction and kept the difference,” shared the article. “Parkash then laundered the proceeds of the illegal scheme through a bank account set up for New York State Lottery sales at the store.”
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