Seguin businessman sentenced to federal prison, ordered to pay over $274,000 for SNAP fraud

SAN ANTONIO – A Seguin businessman was sentenced to one year in federal prison and was ordered to pay more than $274,000 for defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Nasir Ali, 67, is the manager and owner of J.R. Food Mart in Seguin. A federal judge ordered him to pay $274,349.17 in restitution and sentenced him to three years of supervised release following his prison term.

Ali pleaded guilty in May to four counts of wire fraud. He admitted that from November 2009 to March 2013, he exchanged goods and cash for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Ali would, at times, charge up to double the amount of benefits for cash or ineligible items, such as tobacco or alcohol.