A Lake Charles man has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for stealing more than $1 million in food stamp benefits.
U.S. District Judge Richard Haik on Tuesday sentenced 46-year-old Vincent Edward DaPrince to 51 months in prison and ordered him to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Haik also ordered him to serve 50 hours of community service following his release from prison.
DaPrince pleaded guilty in April to fraud charges.
He operated a mobile food service business from a van in the Lake Charles area. Prosecutors say DaPrince swiped customers' electronic benefit transfer cards and provided them with 60 percent of the cash proceeds before depositing the full amount into his bank account through wire transfers.