A Pittsburgh woman has been sentenced to two years of probation, including 90 days of home confinement, and ordered to pay more than $54,000 in restitution for food stamp fraud. The sentencing took place on March 4, 2026, in federal court.
Bolaji Michael, 46, pleaded guilty on October 7, 2025, to one count of food stamp fraud. United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence.
According to court information, Michael owned and operated an African food market where she knowingly allowed individuals to exchange their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for cash. SNAP benefits are intended only for purchasing eligible food items and cannot legally be exchanged for cash. In addition to making these exchanges herself, Michael authorized others at her store to do the same despite knowing it violated SNAP rules. The total monetary loss from this conduct was $54,996.05.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney Troy Rivetti stated: “United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and Pennsylvania State Police Organized Crime Unit West for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Michael.”
