For over 20 months, Naushad Shahabuddin exchanged food stamps for cash at the Clearwater Quick Check Food Mart. Shahabuddin gave customers cash for less than the face value of the food stamps and then kept the difference for himself. He made an illegal profit of about $130,000. His “customers” walked away with about $260,000 in cash instead of food products.

The U.S. Secret Service investigated and Shahabuddin was ultimately charged with defrauding the government. He pleaded guilty this spring.

Unlike a similar case in St. Petersburg which garnered its defendant a sentence of house arrest, a federal judge this week sentenced Shahabuddin to 21 months in prison for his crimes. He is also required to repay the government its money.

Although this defendant received a higher sentence than the defendant in the St. Pete food stamp fraud case, the 21-month sentence was within the range discussed by prosecutors and defense attorneys. Shahabuddin is also required to pay the government the entire $390,000 but he will receive credit for any amounts paid back by his 510 food stamp “customers”.

The difference in sentences for seemingly similar crimes can be the result of a variety of reasons. It could be attributable to different criminal histories on the part of the defendants, different levels of cooperation with the investigation, different levels of sophistication of the criminal enterprise and more. The difference can also hinge to some extent on intangibles such as the identity of the judge and the attorneys involved in the case.

Felonies, Government Fraud

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