Ypsilanti Township store workers among those being sentenced for food-stamp fraud
Four people who worked at an Ypsilanti Township store are among those who will be sentenced today in federal court in two food-stamp fraud cases.
Workers at the store, Abbas Phone Card & Grocery, gave cash to food-stamp recipients in exchange for taking larger amounts off their cards, investigators said.
The store also helped people turn food-stamp benefits into cash for transfer overseas. The indictment says the fraud exceeded $700,000.
The four, Abdurahman Mohamed Abas, Ahmed Mohamed Abas, Mohamed Mohamed-Abas Sheikh, Aidarus Abbas Mohamed, were to be sentenced at 11 a.m. today in federal court in Detroit.
Earlier this year, the government dropped charges against a company accused of illegally transferring money from the scheme overseas.
In another case, two people who worked at a store in Detroit are scheduled to plead guilty. Investigators say the store allowed people to use food-stamp cards to get cash, cigarettes, phone cards and an exotic drug called khat.
Comments
Jessica
Wed, May 19, 2010 : 9:13 p.m.
@Robert M., B.Jean, L: Workers at the store, Abbas Phone Card & Grocery, gave cash to food-stamp recipients in exchange for taking larger amounts off their cards, investigators said. The four, Abdurahman Mohamed Abas, Ahmed Mohamed Abas, Mohamed Mohamed-Abas Sheikh, Aidarus Abbas Mohamed, were to be sentenced at 11 a.m. today in federal court in Detroit. That section of the story tells you the store and the four employees. Also, Ypsidweller says it between Stone School and Platt while Jessica from the AnnArbor.com staff says it is in the Big Lots plaza. Those are two different ends of Ellsworth! So which one is it?
flyingpatricio
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 11:32 a.m.
I think they should also find out who the people that received the cash and prosecute and/or ban them for life from the welfare system. They are just as guilty as the four store owners.
tdw
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 11:01 a.m.
Sorry A2.com I apologize I was'nt looking very well
Ypsidweller
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:59 a.m.
2279 Ellsworth (Between Stone School & Platt) Is hardly Ypsilanti Area. Its Ann Arbor. No wonder they sold beer so cheap....
tdw
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:53 a.m.
I just noticed it says right next to the headline By AnnArbor.com staff
Martin Church
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:52 a.m.
Living wages don't solve the problem. Since the city enacted living wages we have seen the loss of jobs in the community, the price of goods and service grow and the amount of service recieved drop. Remmeber when going to a fast food resturant meant getting service in under a minute. Now it takes 5 minutes to get service because the staff behind the counter has been cut in half. as for the reporting on this story. What happened to journalism. I could have gotten more info from the National Enquire. give us the facts and all of them.
Themadcatter
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:50 a.m.
AA.com gives credit to the Associated Press just before the article heading.
tdw
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:24 a.m.
@L @ dading If the story was pulled from the AP would'nt A2.com have to mention their sources? I don't know.Maybe the staff could answer this question
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:19 a.m.
the story was on channel two this morning.
Themadcatter
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:08 a.m.
This story was pulled in from the Associated Press. It appears not to be written by AA.com. But perhaps AA.com could do a little investigating and tell us which store was involved.
B. Jean
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.
Where are the names and pictures of these criminals? Where is the name of the store that employs these convicted felons? No one should patronize a store that steals from the poor and the tax payers for that matter. You will never convince me management was not aware of this practice. This is an old scam covered extensively 20 years ago in TV news magazine programs and one that is rampant in the party store businness. I am delighted to see someone has finally prosecuted these low-lifes. I hope they do hard time and these investigations continue. But that would mean the government would have oversight and accountability for this vital program. Yeah, that'll happen.
uawisok
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 9:43 a.m.
a2dot com journalism at it's best....gheez....this headline sensationalism here is getting to be as if I were in a check out line at a grocery store. Is the National Enquirer your parent company? For Ann Arbor news I:ve been reading more Ann Arbor Chronicle for factual in depth reporting.
Tammy
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 9:30 a.m.
Micky2u Maybe if corporations were required to pay a living wage Entitlement programs would not be so nessary. I don't know how people are supposed to work for $7,40hr. and not get help to survive. I would write your representives and demand living wages. I make less than what I did in early 80's
tdw
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 9:24 a.m.
Lets see..it does'nt say Ypsilanti nor does it say Ypsilanti Township it says Ypsilanti area that could be just about any where.Why does Ypsilanti need to be involved? why not area store? I guess that would'nt look as good as bringing Ypsi into it
Mikey2u
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 8:41 a.m.
I hope they get life without parole. Entitlement programs are breaking the back of the United States and they are rife with corruption. How did we adopt the mindset that the poor in this country are entitled to financial help FOREVER?