Cape Girardeau County Man Sentenced on Federal Charges Involving Food Stamp Fraud

Cape Girardeau, MO – The co-owner of B & H Convenience was sentenced to twenty-one months imprisonment on charges of misusing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program.  Patrick Buck admitted with his plea last May that he illegally redeemed up to $550,000 in SNAP benefits between January 2010 and March 2014. Buck was ordered to pay $550,000 in restitution to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers this program nationwide.

According to court documents, the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division (FSD) issues Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards (EBT), for the SNAP.  Authorized grocery retailers can only accept and redeem SNAP benefits for the sale of eligible food items.  They are not permitted to exchange or redeem SNAP benefits for cash or other ineligible items such as household goods, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, cellular telephones or other non-food items, or on credit.   

Patrick Buck, Cape Girardeau, MO, pled guilty in May to four felony counts of unauthorized use of SNAP benefits.  He appeared today in Cape Girardeau for sentencing before United States District Judge Ronnie L. White.            

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General-Investigations, Sikeston Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony L. Franks handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.