ATLANTA — Uttam Halder has been sentenced to over five years in federal prison for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), resulting in $10 million in illicit gains. Halder’s crimes included purchasing SNAP benefits at discounted rates from low-income individuals and fleeing to Mexico in an attempt to evade U.S. law enforcement.
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan highlighted the betrayal of trust by Halder, who exploited the federal program intended to combat hunger among low-income families. Despite Halder’s flight and attempt to escape to Istanbul with counterfeit identification, international cooperation led to his capture and extradition back to the United States.
Halder, the owner of Big Daddy’s Discount Meat in Atlanta, misused EBT terminals to allow unauthorized cash transactions for SNAP benefits at two other stores, sharing the fraudulent profits. This operation violated USDA regulations that prohibit the sale or purchase of SNAP benefits for cash.
Following his initial arrest in January 2021 and subsequent release on bond, Halder fled the country. However, his attempt to enter Istanbul from Cancun with a fake passport in June 2023 was thwarted by foreign authorities, leading to his return to U.S. custody.
The 43-year-old from Decatur, Georgia, has been sentenced to 68 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and is ordered to pay restitution of over $10 million. His co-conspirator, Paltu Roy, was previously sentenced, demonstrating the thorough pursuit of justice by U.S. law enforcement and their partners against those who defraud public assistance programs.