ROANOKE, Va. – The owner of Seaford and More in Danville, Virginia, was sentenced today to 12 months and one-day in prison for defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by exchanging cash for SNAP benefits.
According to court documents, Bobby Lee James, 69, and others who worked at Seafood and More, redeemed SNAP benefits in exchange for cash between 2010 and 2018. James also admitted that he directed his employees to redeem SNAP benefits for cash during the same time and that he knew what he was doing was wrong.
James pleaded guilty in January 2021 to one count of wire fraud and one count of food stamp fraud.
According to court documents, from October 2010 to July 2018, SNAP redemptions for Seafood and More exceeded the state average of all other seafood specialty class stores in Virginia by more than $2,465,555. In total, Seafood and More caused approximately $1,835,767 in losses to the SNAP program.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement today.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the United States Secret Service, and the Danville Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day is prosecuting the case for the United States.