If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Russell and Maria Dotson that the United States is seeking a money judgment in the amount of $886,130, the proceeds of the alleged conspiracy. The couple made their initial appearance in federal court today and was released on a $5,000 bond. Their arraignment is set for Monday, September 24, 2018. According to the indictment, the Dotsons owned and operated Asmarina Food Mart with two locations in Jacksonville. Upon opening the convenience stores, they applied for and received approval from the Food and Nutrition Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. After receiving this approval, the Dotsons trained their employees on ways to conduct fraudulent transactions with SNAP recipients using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. The Dotsons instructed their employees to ring up fraudulent transactions to make it appear that SNAP recipients had purchased eligible food products from the store using their EBT cards. The employees then gave the SNAP recipients cash representing approximately one-half of the amount of the fraudulent transaction, while the Dotsons received the remainder of the money. Over approximately 27 months, Russell and Maria Dotson defrauded the United States out of $886,130. This indictment is part of a long-term investigation into SNAP fraud occurring at the two Asmarina Food Mart locations. To date, 10 others have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced, or are pending sentencing, for their roles in this scheme. Shelly Rowe Sullivan, Teighlor Michelle Wicker, Tracy Lynn Hammock, Shannon Marie Whaley, Denise Diane Taylor, and Ormetre Patterson were previously sentenced to supervised release and ordered to pay a total of $37,420.34 in restitution to the United States.
Cierra Elizabeth White, Laura Lockwood, Shanelle Bryant, and Felicia Meadows are pending sentencing and have agreed to pay a total of $168,294.87 in restitution to the United States. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
-- Middle District of Florida