Robert Castro
Franze's Market at 53 North Swan Street.ALBANY, NY - An Albany store owner has taken a plea deal in connection to a food stamps scheme.
Robert Castro owned and operated the now closed Franze's Market at 53 North Swan Street. Franze's Market was one of four stores that police investigated last April for giving people money in exchange for their food stamps.
The scheme involved people coming into the stores with their food stamp debit cards and asking to be charged $300 without making a purchase. They then received $150 cash in return, with the store keeping the remaining $150.
Many of these exchanges were caught on video, showing the card holders entering the market and then leaving several minutes later with no bags or groceries, although the cards were charged up to $399 at those times.
An undercover investigation was set up, catching Franze's Market participating in the scheme. Castro pleaded guilty Thursday morning to Grand Larceny 3rd-degree, spending the next one to three years behind bars. He also forfeits $124,000 seized from his Albany convenience store last April. Castro will begin his sentence on April 4th.
District Attorney David Soares says Castro's plea deal should send a very clear message to anyone who is trying to pull a fast one on social services.
The other three store owners facing charges are expected to begin their trials late in March.
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