Guilty plea in $1.6M Connecticut food stamp fraud

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a Wethersfield woman has pleaded guilty for her role in a $1.6 million food stamp fraud scheme.

U.S. Attorney David Fein said Tuesday that Lillian Adames pleaded guilty in federal court in Hartford on Monday.

Fein says according to court documents and court statements, the 46-year-old Adames illegally exchanged food stamps for cash between October 2006 and March 2009. He says she was helped by her husband and others, exchanging food stamps for cash with customers at six grocery stores in Hartford.

The listed store owners were unconnected with the businesses and allowed their names to be used for ownership and licensing purposes.

Her husband is in prison and five of the stores have closed.

Adames faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing Nov. 29.