Two individuals are now facing charges for a massive SNAP fraud through a Brooklyn bodega.
Dia Alqalisi, 26, and Dawood Kassim, 31, face charges in connection with an extensive EBT card exploitation that siphoned millions of dollars from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York alleges that the duo, owners of a Brooklyn bodega, exploited the federal program, leaving a trail of victims across multiple states in the wake of a massive benefit scam.
Exploiting SNAP Program for Illicit Gains
Between April and December 2022, Kassim and Alqalisi allegedly orchestrated thousands of unauthorized transactions at Throop Farm Market in Bedford-Stuyvesant, leveraging the Brooklyn bodega for their illicit activities.
The SNAP fraud involved allowing recipients to exchange benefits for cash or non-eligible goods, bypassing the intended purpose of the federal program.
By manipulating the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card system, the pair managed to amass over $20 million in fraudulently obtained SNAP benefits, with a substantial portion originating from accounts outside the state of New York.
The aftermath of the benefit scam saw numerous SNAP beneficiaries scattered across states such as Tennessee, Virginia, and California left in dire straits.
Victims reported depleted SNAP accounts, rendering them unable to afford basic necessities, including food and daily essentials.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, condemned the severity of the crime, emphasizing that the stolen funds were intended for those genuinely in need of nutritional assistance.
The victims, unknowingly caught up in the SNAP fraud, found themselves grappling with the consequences of the illicit activities orchestrated by the Brooklyn bodega owners.
Arrested and charged with SNAP fraud, access device fraud, and unlawful monetary transactions, Kassim and Alqalisi now find themselves facing the legal repercussions of their alleged actions.
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SNAP Scandal Impact Widens
As the legal proceedings unfold, law enforcement officials stress the importance of heightened awareness, underscoring that government programs are not a limitless piggy bank for exploitation.
An ongoing investigation aims to determine the full extent of the fraud, with authorities having seized crucial evidence during a December 2022 search warrant execution at the implicated Brooklyn bodega.
The evidence includes EBT terminals, a substantial amount of cash, and New York state EBT cards belonging to other individuals, further implicating the duo in the EBT card exploitation.
The impact of the SNAP scandal extends beyond the immediate victims, as court documents reveal that some victims responded to the fraud by posting Google reviews about Throop Farm Market.
These reviews detailed complaints about their EBT cards being used at the bodega without their permission, shedding light on the widespread repercussions of the benefit scam.
Thousands of SNAP benefit recipients have been ensnared in the web of the defendants' fraud, with some unable to recover the stolen benefits even after the scheme unraveled.
As the legal proceedings progress, the Brooklyn bodega owners remain at the center of one of the most significant SNAP fraud cases in recent memory, exposing vulnerabilities within the federal program designed to provide crucial assistance to those in need.
