2 Columbia men sentenced in food stamp fraud case

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Two Columbia men have been sentenced to prison for a $4 million food stamp fraud case involving their fruit and vegetable operation.

Thirty-eight-year-old Xavier Roedran Pinckney was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday.

Forty-seven-year-old Andrew Williams was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay about $1.6 million to the federal government in restitution.

Two other suspects were sentenced earlier. Seventy-one-year-old Ulysses Williams was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. Twenty-four-year-old Jamal Derwin Gaines was placed on probation for five years.

The men pleaded guilty to fraud.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said Ulysses Williams and George Williams owned fruit and vegetable businesses. Nettles says the markets bought customers’ food stamp benefits for cash and allowed customers to buy nonfood items.