Mini-mart owner charged in food stamp scam

Jose Toribio of Maspeth, Queens, owner of the F&M Mini Mart at 148 E. Park Ave. in Long Beach, was arrested and charged with third-degree grand larceny and misuse of a food stamp device on Sept. 24.

Toribio is alleged to have billed the food stamp program and the Medicaid system for unauthorized purchases and cash transactions, according to the Long Beach Police Department, which worked in conjunction with the Nassau County district attorney's office on the case. Police charge that the benefit recipients would go to the F&M Mini Mart, and Toribio would allow them to purchase banned items, including cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, and that he would give the benefit card holders cash and would then bill the food stamp program as if a food purchase was made. This was often done at twice the actual amount, police said.

Toribio's arrest was part of a county-wide

investigation that spanned more than 18 months. Third-degree grand larceny and misuse of a food stamp device are both class D felonies. If convicted, Toribio faces up to seven years in prison on each charge. Toribio was arraigned on Sept. 25 and released on his own recognizance.