Feds: Covington store's food stamp fraud funded drug abuse
A woman who ran a Covington convenience store and defrauded the food stamp program out of nearly half a million dollars has been sentenced to 5½ years in prison.
Phyllis Tyler – who initially claimed to The Enquirer she was being harassed by police – was found guilty earlier this year in federal court of food stamp fraud and money laundering charges.
The 49-year-old Edgewood, Kentucky woman managed and operated A&E Beauty Supply, a small store not far from the Madison Theater. It sold items including wigs, makeup, T-shirts, beer and snacks.
Testimony revealed that Tyler or an employee bought electronic benefit cards for half the value. She then redeemed the full benefits through transactions at her store, triggering a direct reimbursement to her business bank account. She also took cards to retailers like Kroger and Sam’s Club and purchased food stamp-eligible items.
Read more: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/northern-ky/2017/08/04/feds-covington-stores-food-stamp-fraud-funded-drug-abuse/539839001/