Federal marshals arrested Cape Girardeau convenience store co-owner Patrick Buck, 45, on Tuesday on five felony charges of unauthorized use of food-stamp benefits.

The Cape Girardeau man, who co-owned the now-closed B&H Convenience Store at 1021 Bloomfield Road, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Cape Girardeau on Dec. 17, but the charges were not publicly disclosed until he was arrested, federal officials said.

The indictment alleges Buck illegally redeemed about $800,000 in food-stamp benefits between January 2010 and March 2014.

According to the indictment, the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support division issues electronic-benefits transfer cards (EBT) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.

Authorized grocery retailers can accept and redeem SNAP benefits only for the sale of eligible food items. They are not permitted to exchange or redeem SNAP benefits for cash or other ineligible items such as household goods, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, cellular telephones and other nonfood items, the U.S. attorney's office said.

The indictment stated Buck paid cash for SNAP benefits and exchanged SNAP benefits for tobacco products.

According to the indictment, Buck was in a business partnership with James Fullenwider. As partners, both men opened a bank account in November 2009. Buck's wife, Tamara Buck, was listed as a non-partner with authorization to sign for transactions, the indictment said. Tamara Buck is on the faculty at Southeast Missouri State University.

When they opened the store, the Bucks also owned Phat Cat, a bar on Broadway that also has closed.

The Southeast Missourian reported in July 2009 the convenience store would offer "cold cuts, slush drinks, snack cakes and other foods found inside a small country store." Fullenwider was described as Buck's cousin.

Buck said at the time, "We think with the foot traffic, it's important to have that kind of store in that neighborhood."

It's alleged Patrick Buck, doing business as B&H Convenience Store, "together with others known and unknown to the grand jury, knowingly devised, intended to devise and participated in a scheme to defraud and to obtain money and property" from the United States Department of Agriculture, which manages the food-stamp program.

If convicted, Buck faces a maximum up to five years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines on each count. The U.S. Department of Agriculture investigated the case, along with the Sikeston, Missouri, Department of Public Safety.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

1021 Bloomfield Road, Cape Girardeau, Mo.