Father and son store owners plead guilty to a cash for food stamps scheme
A father and son pleaded guilty Wednesday to defrauding the federal food stamps program out of almost a million dollars.
Cristian Pena and his father, Ramon Pena were accused of illegally buying food stamps at a cut rate in exchange for cash from customers at the store they operated in Lawrence, according to the Essex Country’s District Attorney’s office. Both men were accused of trafficking almost $990,000 of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits over a three-year period.
“This is not a victimless crime,’’ District Attorney Jonathan Blogett said in a statement. “We all pay the price when the greedy few defraud the taxpayers out of scarce public resources that are meant to feed, house and clothe our most needy residents.’’
Both Cristian and Ramon pleaded guilty to trafficking in Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits and larceny over $250. Ramon was also pleaded guilty to unlicensed possession of a firearm, which authorities discovered when they raided the property in June.
Dominican national Cristian Pena was sentenced to four to six years in state prison. He will be deported upon his release. Ramon Pena was placed on probation for two years.
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