Hollywood store owner charged in $500,000 SNAP benefits fraud scheme
Key Points(5)
- A convenience store owner in Hollywood, Florida, has been charged in connection with an alleged years-long scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $500,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
- According to court records, Al Amin, 52, allegedly conspired with others to purchase Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards from SNAP recipients for cash payments equal to approximately half the value of their available benefits.
- Amin and his co-conspirators allegedly used the cards to purchase merchandise in bulk from various retailers.
- Prosecutors said Amin used some of the merchandise to stock his convenience store and sold additional goods to other store owners in the area.
- Amin faces charges of conspiracy to obtain unauthorized use, transfer, acquisition or possession of benefits and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
A convenience store owner in Hollywood, Florida, has been charged in connection with an alleged years-long scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $500,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
According to court records, Al Amin, 52, allegedly conspired with others to purchase Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards from SNAP recipients for cash payments equal to approximately half the value of their available benefits.
Amin and his co-conspirators allegedly used the cards to purchase merchandise in bulk from various retailers. Prosecutors said Amin used some of the merchandise to stock his convenience store and sold additional goods to other store owners in the area.
Amin faces charges of conspiracy to obtain unauthorized use, transfer, acquisition or possession of benefits and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison on the SNAP-related conspiracy charge and up to 20 years on the wire fraud conspiracy charge.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida announced the charges alongside José R. Figueroa, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, and John Walk, inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
HSI Miami and the USDA Office of Inspector General are investigating the case, with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph A. Cooley is prosecuting the case.
Amin is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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