The former owner of Big Daddy's Discount Meat in Atlanta, Uttam Halder, received a 68-month federal prison sentence. The conviction stems from his participation in a sophisticated $10 million scheme that defrauded the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Halder preyed on low-income recipients who relied on SNAP benefits.
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan commented on the case, noting that "the federal government trusted Halder to safeguard precious SNAP funds designed to alleviate hunger, but he abused that trust to fuel his greed by profiting from a multibillion-dollar scheme to fraudulently redeem SNAP benefits. Buchanan also highlighted the coordinated response of several foreign agencies and authorities that allowed Halder to be returned to the United States to face justice for his actions.
Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta Anthony J. Patrone stressed the importance of diligence in law enforcement, stating that "Halder's attempt to defraud the government and evade prosecution was thwarted due to the diligence of HSI and its law enforcement partners.” Patrone warned that HSI will relentlessly pursue those who engage in fraud schemes that violate the public trust.
The story began with Uttam Halder's opening of Big Daddy's Discount Meat as a participating retailer in the SNAP initiative in 2014. SNAP, designed to combat food insecurity, provides assistance to families purchasing food through Electronic Transfer cards of Benefits (EBT). However, between 2015 and 2020, Halder and his accomplices took advantage of this system, lending EBT terminals to Food World and Big Brother Mini Supermarket. These establishments violated program regulations by purchasing cash benefits at significantly reduced rates.
The case took a dramatic turn when Halder, initially arrested in January 2021, fled the country, violating his bail conditions. His attempt to evade justice ended in Istanbul, where Turkish authorities detained him in June 2023 after entering the country with fraudulent documents. Halder, a 42-year-old Decatur resident, later pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and failure to appear in court proceedings.
In a related case, Paltu Roy, 51-year-old operator of Big Brother Mini Supermarket in Stone Mountain, also faced legal consequences. After pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in December 2021, Roy was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Michael L. Brown to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Roy was ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution to the USDA for his participation in the fraud.
This comprehensive investigation, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations, highlights the federal government's commitment to protecting public funds and ensuring that assistance programs serve their intended purpose. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan P. Kitchens led the prosecution, marking a major victory in the ongoing fight against SNAP fraud.