Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Omar Alaidrus, age 24, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison following his guilty pleas to distributing controlled substances and food stamp fraud.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of the Inspector General Northeast Region (USDA-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office; and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James.
Alaidrus admitted that on multiple occasions, he exchanged fentanyl for food stamps in the Schenectady deli his family owned and operated. Alaidrus also unlawfully provided cash in exchange for food stamps, and redeemed food stamps for other prohibited items such as Xanax, alcohol, and tobacco. Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also ordered Alaidrus to pay $316,975 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Food and Nutrition Service and imposed a 3-year-term of supervised release.
USDA-OIG, HSI, New York State Police, and the Schenectady Sheriff and Police investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted.