Store owner pleads guilty to SNAP fraud

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Federal prosecutors say the owner of a food store in Tulsa has pleaded guilty to stealing about $283,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

U.S. Attorney Danny Williams Sr. says 47-year-old Milton Islam of Broken Arrow entered the guilty plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Tulsa.

Islam owned Apache Food Mart. Williams says Islam acknowledged he stole from the program formerly known as the Food Stamp program between 2011 and 2014. Williams says Islam allegedly allowed customers to use their benefits to receive cash rather than food.

Sentencing is set for Aug. 11. Islam faces up to 10 years in prison and a $566,000 fine.

Defense attorney Robert Van Henson did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment about the case.