A Holyoke man was arrested Wednesday on charges he used state public-assistance cards he fraudulently obtained to buy food that was served at his wife’s restaurant, state police said.

State police spokesman David Procopio said a yearlong investigation by troopers and the Department of Transitional Assistance into the alleged electronic benefits transfer card scam culminated with the arrest of Jose A. Baez, 55, at the El Rincon Boricua restaurant on Lyman Street in Holyoke.

Baez was due to be arraigned Wednesday in Springfield District Court on charges that Procopio said included public assistance fraud, money laundering, an electronic fund transfer violation, a government purchasing violation and larceny over $1,200 by single scheme.

Baez was allegedly seen on surveillance purchasing large quantities of food on what police said was “an almost daily basis” at two food distributors on Avocado Street in Springfield. Investigators allegedly collected evidence that Baez was buying the food with multiple fraudulently obtained EBT cards.

The probe began last spring when DTA flagged a pattern of suspicious purchases that were being made at a retailer in Springfield. Once state police were brought on board, further investigation allegedly identified Baez as the individual who was purchasing large quantities of meat on a regular basis using a number of different EBT cards.

“The Department of Transitional Assistance is proactive and aggressive in its efforts to prevent fraud and abuse of public assistance and continuously strengthens its program integrity efforts to ensure benefits are provided only to those who are eligible,” a DTA spokesperson said. “In this case, DTA identified a pattern of SNAP purchases that appeared suspicious, then collaborated with the State Police to conduct an investigation into the individual, which culminated in today’s arrest.”

Search warrants were executed Wednesday morning at Baez’s home on Homestead Avenue in Holyoke and at the restaurant, where police allege at least “tens of thousands of dollars of food supplies” were prepared and served.

Police said their investigation is ongoing and “further law enforcement action is possible.”

EBT cards are intended to provide food benefits and economic assistance for individuals and families in need.