Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that David M. Stain, 46, of Lewiston, pled guilty to two counts of Class C theft and was sentenced Monday for stealing Food Stamps and Public Assistance Benefits in the amount of $11,001.

Androscoggin County Superior Court Justice Mary Gay Kennedy sentenced Stain to one year in jail, all but 60 days suspended, and one year of probation with the requirement that he pay restitution.

Stain admitted that during a two-year period he obtained $9,407 in public assistance from the City of Lewiston by failing to disclose that his wife, who also receives public benefits, was living in his household.

Stain also admitted stealing $1,600 in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) by selling his Electronic Benefits Transfer Card (EBT card) with $200 of monthly benefits to his sister for eight months and providing her with his PIN number so that she could access the benefits.

Stain used the cash to buy cigarettes.

“We will continue to work with DHHS and local law enforcement agencies to hold benefit recipients accountable for the proper use of our limited resources,” said Attorney General Schneider. “Food stamps and general assistance are designed to give our neighbors a hand in a time of need, not maintain a lifestyle through fraud and illegal trafficking.”

This case was investigated by the Lewiston Police Department and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit. Assistant Attorney General Darcy Mitchell handled this matter for Attorney General Schneider’s Criminal Division.