The US Department of Justice (DOJ) charges six people in connection with a food stamp and bribery schedule of millions of dollars.
In a new press release, the DOJ announces costs against six people connected to a “vast” schedule that $ 66 million in food vouchers has won by abusing the additional food utility (SNAP).
The suspects – Michael Kehoe, Mohamad Nawafleh, Omar Alrawashdeh, Gamal Obaid, Emad Alrawashdeh and Arlasa Davis – are accused of conspiracy to steal government funds and with abuse of the US Ministry of Agriculture (USDA), in addition to other charges.
Authorities say that from 2019, Kehoe and his co-samplers reportedly submitted fraudulent requests to obtain machine terminals that have accepted payments from Snap receivers for unauthorized places, such as smoke shops.
Snap recipients use specialized payment cards to buy food in stores. According to the press release, Kehoe has set up 160 illegal terminals in New York and processed millions of dollars in fraudulent EBT transactions (electronic benefit transfer).
One of the members of the group – Davis – worked for the USDA and is suspected of using its position to acquire and distribute a list of licensed numbers for qualifying stores, allowing the thieves to obtain illegally EBT -Terminals for stores that were not authorized by the USDA. In exchange, she received bribes disguised as gifts.
As explained by the American lawyer Perry Carbone,
“Michael Kehoe and his fellow-samenweders have abused dozens of millions of dollars in taxpayers that are intended to put families with a low income on the table. This fraud was made possible when USDA employee Arlasa Davis betrayed public confidence by selling confidential government information to the very criminals she was assuming.
Their actions undermined a program on which vulnerable New Yorkers depend on basic food. These costs must be a reminder that those who exploit anti-armed programs for personal gain are held responsible for their crimes. “
If convicted, the suspects are confronted with decades behind bars.
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