Baltimore, Maryland
A federal grand jury returned nine separate indictments charging 14 retail store operators for committing food stamp fraud and wire fraud in connection with schemes to illegally redeem food stamp benefits in exchange for cash, officials announced this week.
The indictments allege the retailers received over $16 million in federal payments for transactions in which they did not provide any food, a fraud scheme commonly known as “food stamp trafficking.”
Stores allegedly split the proceeds with food stamp recipients.
The indictments were unsealed today upon the arrests of the defendants.
Over 300 members of law enforcement participated in the arrests and execution of a total of 26 search warrants at the stores and related locations this morning. In addition, 46 bank accounts were seized.
“The food stamp program is intended to put food on the tables of needy recipients, not to put money in the pockets of greedy criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Honest storeowners work hard to earn a profit by actually selling food, and food producers and distributors also benefit. People who play by the rules deserve to know that criminals who defraud them will be held accountable.”
The indictments allege that the defendants exchanged food stamp benefits for cash, in violation of the food stamp program rules.
As a result of unlawful cash transactions, the defendants obtained more than $16,482,270 in case deposits for transactions in which food sales never occurred or were substantially inflated, according to officials.
According to the indictments, the defendants listed below owned and/or operated stores in the Baltimore area that were authorized to accept food stamps:
Walayat Khan, age 36, of Reisterstown, Maryland
Barbara Ann Duke, age 50, of Owings Mills, Maryland;
Maria’s Market Place, 307 S. Broadway in Baltimore; and Royals Food Market, 921 E. Patapsco Avenue in Brooklyn, Maryland.
From October 2013 to June 2016, Khan and Duke allegedly obtained more than $1,486,118 in payments for food sales that never occurred.
Shaheen Tasewar Hussain, age 60, of Ellicott City, Maryland; Shop & Save, 301 Crain Highway South, Suite D, Glen Burnie, Maryland. From July 2014 through October 2015, Hussain allegedly obtained more than $778,183 in payments for food sales that never occurred.
Kelym Novas Perez, age 34, of Baltimore; and Jose Remedio Gonzalez Reyes, age 50, of Baltimore; Kelym Grocery, 2734 Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore.
From August 2013 through March 2016, Perez and her husband, Gonzalez Reyes, allegedly obtained more than $879,500 in payments for food sales that never occurred.
Mulazam Hussain, age 54, of Windsor Mill, Maryland; Monroe Food Mart and Y&J Grocery in Baltimore.
From March 2013 through July 2016 Hussain allegedly obtained more than $1,242,745 in payments for food sales that never occurred.
Mohammad Shafiq, age 50, of Gwynn Oak, Maryland; and his daughter, Alia Shaheen, age 24, of Baltimore;
Quick Stop Convenience Store, 237 N. Patterson Park Avenue; New York Food Mart, 1201 N. Patterson Park Avenue; and Barclay Food Mart, 2454 Barclay Street, all in Baltimore; and Shafiq Corporation, 6929 Holabird Avenue, in Dundalk, Maryland.
From about October 2010 through July 2016, Mohammad Shafiq and his daughter, Alia Shaheen, allegedly obtained more than $3,712,353 in payments for food sales that never occurred or were substantially inflated.
Mohammad Irfan, age 59; and Muhammad Sarmad, age 40, both of Nottingham, Maryland; New Sherwood Market, 6324 Sherwood Road in Northwood, Maryland; Martin Mart, 1504 Martin Boulevard in Middle River, Maryland; Rosedale Mart, 6326 Kenwood Avenue in Rosedale, Maryland; and M&A Mart 7400-A Belair Road in Baltimore.
From October 2010 through August 2016, Irfan and Sarmad allegedly obtained more than $3,550,662 in payments for food sales that never occurred.
Mahmood Hussain Shah, age 57, of Catonsville, Maryland; and Muhammad Rafiq, age 58, of Reisterstown; Corner Groceries, 1242 Darley Avenue in Baltimore.
From October 2010 through August 2016, Shah and Rafiq allegedly obtained more than $1,610,556 in payments for food sales that never occurred.
Rizwan Pervez, age 38, of Essex, Maryland; M&N Mini Mart, 1846 W. North Avenue; and Mega Mart1, 1522 Ellamont Street, both in Baltimore.
From April 2014 through July 2016, Pervez, allegedly obtained more than $1,689,511 in payments for food sales that never occurred.
Kassem Mohammad Hafeed, a/k/a Kassam Mohammad Hafeed, age 51, Baltimore; C&C Market, 4752 Park Heights Avenue in Baltimore.
From November 2010 through April 2013, Hafeed allegedly obtained more than $1,532,642 in payments for food sales that never occurred.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.