A husband and wife were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Dayton for food stamp fraud in connection to a Cincinnati Findlay Street Market vendor.
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Michael D. Busch, co-owner of Busch’s Country Corner located at the Cincinnati Findlay Street Market, and Amanda Jo Busch were convicted by a jury in Dayton following a two-week trial in June 2019.
The sentencing is the result of Michael Busch, his wife, Amanda Jo Busch, and his brother, Randall S. Busch, illegally exchanging cash for SNAP benefits, according to court documents and trial testimony from April 2010 until May 2018.
Michael and Amanda reportedly caused more than 195,000 individual SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) transactions to be completed by Busch’s Country Corner, totaling more than $5.4 million.
According to witness testimony at trial, approximately 64 percent, or $3.4 million, of those SNAP transactions were fraudulent.
Records show that co-conspirators used an electronic point of sale device in order to process EBT transactions for cash. For example, one transaction included a beginning EBT balance of $1,300 and an ending balance of $11.
Michael D. Busch was sentenced to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine. His wife, Amanda Jo Busch, was sentenced to five years of probation with eight months in home confinement, and 200 hours of community service, according to court records.
Michael, Amanda and the corporation were also ordered to pay $87,192 in restitution.
Randall Busch previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years of probation.
Michael, Amanda Busch and Busch’s Country Corner were each convicted on all counts, including conspiracy to steal government funds, SNAP fraud and wire fraud.
