The investigation revealed that from March to December 2012, Mastic Supermarket Corp. rang up more than $564,000 in SNAP benefits. Schneiderman said that is significantly higher than redemptions in comparable nearby stores, where the totals ranged from $14,000 to $24,000. In November 2012, after all SNAP cardholders in Suffolk County received the emergency Hurricane Sandy SNAP award, officials noted that SNAP redemptions at Mastic Supermarket Corp. exceeded $75,000.

In addition to the criminal charges, Schneiderman filed a civil suit on July 28 seeking $973,000 in restitution against Chadha, Rashid, Malhotra and Mastic Supermarket Corp. Chadha is vice president of the corporation.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Edward Webber said his department was involved in the investigation, along with the Nassau County Police Department, the USDA and the Suffolk County district attorney’s office.

Webber called the alleged crime egregious. “It takes advantage of a government program aimed at providing nutrition for our most needy recipients,” he said. “We will continue to work in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure that those who are fraudulently using SNAP will be brought to justice.”

Chadha faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. Rashid and Malhotra may be sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

Three of the SNAP cardholders –– Romie Harris, 45, of Mastic; Kristine Hensley Austin, 25, of Mastic Beach; and Dawn Murphy, 33, of Mastic Beach –– have been charged with third-degree grand larceny and misuse of food stamps, and face up to seven years in prison. The other beneficiaries –– Brittany Sardella, 26, of Hampton Bays; David Cantwell, 46, of Southhold; Carolyn Gray, 25, of Mastic; and Theresa Hubbard, 51, of Mastic Beach –– may spend up to four years in prison if convicted of fourth-degree grand larceny and misuse of food stamps.