Monday, September 10, 2012

Former Store Owner Pleads Guilty

{Huntington, West Virginia}...Thirty-four year old Abe Eloirzazi, the former owner of the All-In-One convenience store in Huntington, has admitted participating in an illegal scheme to cash federal food stamps, defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Prosecutors say he and two co-defendants, Stephanie Pauley and Cynthia Gibson, illegally redeemed about $127,000 worth of food stamp benefits at the store between June 2010 and February 2012. Eloirzazi faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced December 10th. Eloirzazi must also pay restitution. The store has been closed permanently, and the property is being surrendered to the city of Huntington under the defendant's plea agreement. Pauley and Gibson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud and face sentencing later this year.