Whoever knowingly obtains or attempts to obtain, or aids or abets any person to obtain food coupons, by means of a willfully false statement or representation or by impersonation or in any manner not authorized by law or regulations issued by the state department of welfare, or presents or causes to be presented any food coupons to which he is not entitled or food coupons of a greater value than that to which he is justly entitled shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned in the county jail not more than one (1) year, or both in the discretion of the court; provided further, that any person who sells or gives coupons which he legally possesses to another person, and any person not legally entitled to coupons who accepts or purchases same, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned in the county jail not more than one (1) year, or both in the discretion of the court. Each violation shall be a separate and distinct offense; and any person committing a third offense shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) or imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than one (1) nor more than five (5) years, or both in the discretion of the court.