BUFFALO – Joseph M. Gullotti, 57, of Jamestown, who was previously convicted of food stamp benefits fraud, was sentenced Tuesday to six months home detention by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Gullotti must also pay $173,515 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Gullotti owned and operated Fresh Cut Meats & More on 631 Newland Avenue. Assistant U.S Attorneys Douglas A.C. Penrose and Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who handled the case, said Gullotti was authorized to accept and redeem food stamps. Between January 2015 and March 21, 2017, Gullotti and others accepted food stamps benefits to pay for merchandise purchased on credit including ineligible items with food stamps.
Gullotti and others engaged in approximately $173,515 of unlawful transactions.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits a retailer from accepting food stamps for ineligible items such as beer, cigarettes, and hot prepared food, from giving cash for the benefits, and from using the benefits to pay for items purchased on credit.
Tuesday’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins; Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Harry Snellings.