Tulsa Store Owner Sentenced For Stealing Food Stamp Benefits

A 47-year-old Broken Arrow man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison in the theft of $282,912 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP].

U.S. Attorney Danny C. Williams Sr. announced the prison sentence for Milton Islam, owner of Apache Food Mart at 27th and North Yale in Tulsa. 

In May, Islam pleaded guilty to stealing the money from the program formerly known as Food Stamps, and Wednesday he was ordered to pay that amount in restitution.

5/13/2015 Related Story: Tulsa Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing $283K In Food Stamp Benefits   

SNAP offers nutrition assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and families

Prosecutors say that from May 26, 2011 to July 31, 2014, Islam stole from the program through a scheme where customers would use their SNAP benefits to receive cash rather than nutritional assistance. 

Authorities say cash customers only received half the amount of money that Islam received from the program.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.