MARIETTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
240 LEMON STREET, MARIETTA, GEORGIA 30060-1688
Policing with a Vision
Chief Dan Flynn
PHONE (770) 794-5300
Public Information Officer – Officer David Baldwin
770-794-5370 (office) 770-235-1915 (cell)
****************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*******************
INCIDENT: Conviction in food stamp fraud case
DATE: June 6, 2012
LOCATION: Chevron Gas Station, 811 South Marietta Parkway
SUSPECT: Shamsha Mirza Vasay, 31, of Duluth
CHARGES: Convicted and sentenced on Food Stamp Fraud
In June of 2010, the Marietta Police Department received a tip from a concerned citizen that a business within the city was possibly committing food stamp fraud. The allegation stated that the manager/owner of the Chevron gas station, located at 811 South Marietta Parkway, was allowing citizens to illegally use their EBT cards to make cash withdrawals and purchases outside the scope of use for the cards.
An extensive two year undercover investigation was launched in cooperation and conjunction with agents of the United States District Attorneys, Office of Inspector General. The investigation revealed that since June of 2009, the owner/manager of the Chevron, identified as Shamsha Vasay, had stolen over $500,000 from the Food and Nutrition Services division that coordinates food stamp vouchers and EBT cards.
Vasay was arrested and charged federally for Food Stamp Fraud. In June of 2012, Vasay was convicted of her charges and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison.
Food stamp fraud is a crime that has grown sharply in the United States and is difficult to prevent since it involves collusion between food stamp recipients and unscrupulous business owners. It requires an extensive investigation to make an arrest and reach a conviction. Nevertheless, we will not tolerate it in Marietta. Difficult as it may be, we will vigorously pursue future cases as we have this one.
The Marietta Police Department would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the USDA, Office of Inspector General for the enormous undertaking into this case that led to not only an arrest, but a conviction.
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