HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (AP) - Two Long Island merchants have been sentenced to prison terms for their roles in a scheme to steal over $1.6 million from the federal food stamp program.
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman says Ravinder Parkash pleaded guilty in January to grand larceny, money laundering and conspiracy. The Riverhead store owner was sentenced Wednesday to up to four years in state prison and ordered to pay $566,011.49 in restitution.
Sajjad Rashid pleaded guilty in March to grand larceny and other charges. The Mastic shopkeeper was sentenced to up to 7 1/2 years in prison and must repay $974,619.
Prosecutors say they and others rang up sham purchases for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. They kept the cash and divided the proceeds.
Others associated with the scheme were previously convicted.
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