A South Windsor man pleaded guilty Tuesday to allowing customers of a Manchester convenience store to redeem food stamps for gasoline, male enhancement pills and other ineligible items, federal authorities said.
Siddiq Chaudhary, 70, faces a maximum of ten years in prison after pleading guilty to food stamp fraud and conspiracy. Chaudhary was free after posting bail of $100,000 and is to be sentenced on Oct. 13, officials said.
The federal Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (“SNAP”) uses federal tax dollars to provide low-income households with aid to buy nutritious food. Alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, paper goods and soaps are not eligible items and SNAP benefits cannot be exchanged for cash under any circumstances.