Penalties.

(a) Any person who knowingly uses, transfers, acquires, alters, purchases, possesses, or transports one or more food stamp coupons or access devices in a manner not authorized by the Food Stamp Act of 1964, approved August 31, 1964 (78 Stat. 703; 7 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq.) (“Food Stamp Act”), or by regulations issued pursuant to that Act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined no more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 180 days, or both.

(b) In addition to the penalty in subsection (a) of this section, any person convicted of a misdemeanor under this section shall be subject to suspension by the Superior Court from participation in the District of Columbia food stamp program for a period of one year consecutive to that period of suspension mandated by section 6(b)(1) of the Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. § 2015(b)(1)).

(c) Prosecution under this section shall be conducted in the Superior Court by the Corporation Counsel.