Two Convenient Store Managers Sentenced on Federal Charges Involving Food Stamp Fraud

Cape Girardeau, MO – Larry White, Sr., 63, and Erica White, 35, both of Sikeston, were sentenced today – Larry to 33 months in prison and Erica to 1 year and 1 day in prison on charges of misusing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program.

According to court documents, the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division (FSD) issues Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards (EBT), for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly known as food stamps. 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.

Larry White was manager of Stop-n-Go Fish Market in Sikeston, and his daughter Erica White was manager of Stop-n-Go Mini Mart Store in New Madrid. Both admitted that they illegally redeemed up to $549,000 in SNAP benefits between December 2010 and March 2014 by exchanging SNAP benefits for cash and illegible items.

Both pled guilty in May to multiple felony counts of unauthorized use of SNAP benefits and conspiracy. Both appeared today before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., in Cape Girardeau.

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General-Investigations, Sikeston Department of Public Safety and the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony L. Franks is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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