Worcester Woman Pleads Guilty to $3.6 Million in Food Stamp Fraud

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocalWorcester Reporter

On Monday, a Worcester woman plead guilty in U.S. District Court in Worcester to a $3.6 million food stamp fraud scheme she operated out of a Worcester convenience store.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, Vida Ofori Causey, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit SNAP benefits fraud, one count of SNAP fraud, and one count of money laundering in connection with a four year fraud scheme.

Causey owned and operated J&W Aseda Plaza on Main Street in Worcester. From April 2010 to October 2014, Causey would purchase Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from food stamp recipients rather than exchanging them for food.

Causey would purchase the food stamps at fifty cents for every SNAP dollar. When Causey did this, the USDA would electronically deposit the full value of the SNAP benefits into a bank account controlled by Causey.

Over those four years of obtaining fraduluent benefits, Causey defrauded the USDA of approximately $3,638,900 in SNAP funds.

Causey faces charges of conspiracy which provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison and three years of supervised release. The charge of SNAP fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison and three years of supervised release. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Each charge also provides for a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and forfeiture and restitution. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett of Ortiz’s Worcester Branch Office.