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New York Consolidated Laws, Social Services Law - SOS § 147. Misuse of food stamps, food stamp program coupons, authorization cards and electronic access devices

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

1. a. Whoever knowingly uses, transfers, acquires, alters, purchases, transports or possesses food stamps, food stamp program coupons, authorization cards or electronic access devices which entitle a person to obtain food stamps, in any manner not authorized by section ninety-five of this chapter shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor except that if the value of the benefit he or she obtained:

(i) exceeds one thousand dollars, he or she shall be guilty of a class E felony;  or

(ii) exceeds three thousand dollars, he or she shall be guilty of a class D felony;  or

(iii) exceeds fifty thousand dollars, he or she shall be guilty of a class C felony.

b. For the purposes of this section, the value of the benefit obtained shall be the cumulative face value of such food stamps, food stamp program coupons, authorization cards or electronic access devices.

2. Any person found to have violated the provisions of subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) of paragraph a of subdivision one of this section, who shall possess a license to sell liquor under section sixty-three of the alcoholic beverage control law or to sell lottery tickets under article thirty-four of the tax law, shall have such license or licenses revoked in addition to any other penalty authorized by law.  As used herein, the word “person” shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, or association.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - New York Consolidated Laws, Social Services Law - SOS § 147. Misuse of food stamps, food stamp program coupons, authorization cards and electronic access devices - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/social-services-law/sos-sect-147/

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