Ali Youssef Aoun, SNAP Benefits Fraud, Michigan 2020

A Detroit-area convenience store owner has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for defrauding the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as the food stamp program.

Ali Youssef Aoun, 52, was sentenced on February 7, 2020, by U.S District Court Judge Robert H. Cleland after pleading guilty to three counts of defrauding the SNAP program.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Aoun took advantage of vulnerable SNAP recipients by exchanging benefits for cash, while only paying fifty cents on the dollar. He would disguise the benefits as income into his stores or use them to purchase items for himself.

The scheme, which lasted for over four years, resulted in Aoun fraudulently obtaining approximately $341,360.41 from the federal SNAP program.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, the Court entered a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $341,360.41.

Speaking at the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said, 'Defendant Aoun committed his fraud on the backs of people who truly need the SNAP program to put food on the dinner table and make ends meet. His crime was motivated solely by greed and today's sentence should send a message to all SNAP vendors that our office takes fraud seriously and will prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law.'

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/detroit-area-retail-vendor-sentenced-24-months-food-stamp-fraud