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Fargo, N.D. (AP) Fargo police have identified a suspect more than a year after a man swiped a wallet just before his own food stamp swipe card.

What detectives thought would be a simple investigation became complicated because of federal restrictions on releasing information about food stamp recipients.

But investigators enlisted the help of the North Dakota Attorney General's office and kept trying.

And last month, the officials who oversee the food stamp program identified the man surveillance video showed using a food stamp card right after taking the wallet.

Officials at the state Department of Human Services, which heads the program in North Dakota, say they decided to comply with a new subpoena in the case because of how the attorney general interpreted the law.

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-05-09 1219CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list