ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - A Rochester fish monger faces up to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a $1.2 million food-stamp fraud scheme.
Federal prosecutors say 61-year-old Irving Feldman of Pittsford pleaded guilty to fraud in U.S. District Court in Rochester on Friday.
Feldman operates Upstate Fish in Rochester. He was accused of illegally buying $1.2 million worth of food stamps from willing recipients for half their face value in cash. Feldman reaped a big profit by redeeming the food stamps with the federal government at full value.
Prosecutors say he also admitted to a second fraud scheme where he got food stamp recipients to buy fish from other markets and sell it to him at much lower prices. He then resold it at full value.
Sentencing is March 14.
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