Florissant Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Food Stamp Fraud

On Thursday, the United States Attorney’s Office sentenced James Norvell Fitch Jr. to 18 months in prison for food stamp fraud.

In January, Fitch pled guilty to one felony count of food stamp fraud.

Between 2006 and 2008, Fitch operated two stores, TR Corner Store and 14th Street Market and Deli, that authorized Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card transactions--or food stamps--that were both qualified and unqualified purchases, such as for cigarettes, clothes, electronics and liquor.

For that two-year period, the unauthorized EBT card transaction redemptions totaled more than $400,000.

Along with his 18-month prison sentence, Fitch also has a three-year supervised release and pay a restitution of $400,000 for the unauthorized redemptions. He also agreed to forfeit $15,000 seized during the investigation process.