An indictment unsealed on Tuesday reveals that two individuals have been accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme involving benefits fromSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at a bodega in New York.
Dawood Kassim, aged 31, and Dia Alqalisi, aged 26, allegedly operated a scam where they trafficked and misappropriated millions of dollars in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York stated that the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn served as the focal point for their activities, with their bodega, Throop Farm Market, acting as the hub for their operations.
Despite lacking authorization to conduct SNAP transactions, Kassim utilized the bodega for thousands of fraudulent transactions, carried out with Alqalisi, between April and December 2022.
Benefit Retention and SNAP Card Fraud Claims
Prosecutors alleged that they retained a portion of the benefits as compensation for this service.
Additionally, Kassim is accused of unlawfully acquiring SNAP benefits from unsuspecting individuals by utilizing counterfeit and stolen SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards at the bodega.
According to the statement, the victims of their actions included SNAP beneficiaries from various states, including Tennessee, Virginia, and California.
The total amount acquired through these illicit transactions, comprising trafficked and stolen benefits, exceeded $20 million. Notably, over $7 million of this sum originated from the SNAP accounts of beneficiaries residing outside of New York.
Arrests and Charges: SNAP Fraud Indictment
On Tuesday morning, they were apprehended and indicted on charges of SNAP fraud, access device fraud, and unlawful monetary transactions.
Their legal representation is currently unknown.
Breon Peace, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, denounced the defendants’ conduct, highlighting their “illegal” exploitation of benefits designated for individuals requiring nourishing meals, particularly crucial during periods of elevated food expenses.
He further emphasized that these arrests should serve as a deterrent to those who view government programs as a reservoir to exploit without facing repercussions.
