The now-former owner of a DeKalb County convenience store pleaded guilty Tuesday to “trafficking in food stamps,” admitting culpability in a scheme that federal authorities say netted him millions.
Tessema Lulseged, 49, was the owner and operator of Decatur’s Big T Supermarket when, according to information released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta, he allowed customers to trade in their food stamps for cash. Lulseged reportedly offered the customers 60 cents on the dollar and required them to purchase additional products from his store.
Authorities believe Lulseged made $6.5 million through the scheme from January 2009 through April 2014. Federal authorities seized more than $700,000, as well as Lulseged’s home and store, in 2014.
“Food stamps are intended to provide assistance to our citizens most in need,” acting U.S. Attorney John A. Horn said in a statement. “This defendant ran a corrupt exchange scheme that, until his scheme was discovered, undermined the purpose of the program and resulted in great financial benefit to himself.”
Lulseged pleaded guilty Tuesday in front of U.S. District Court Judge Leigh Martin May. He is scheduled to be sentenced in September.
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