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Four Erie Residents Charged with Conspiracy to Defraud the U.S. and Food Stamp Fraud in Pennsylvania
ERIE, Pa. – In a shocking turn of events, four residents of Erie, Pennsylvania have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and food stamp fraud, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
The indictment names Abdul Alquraishi, 50; Hussain K. Al-Maliki, 50; Dhia Almaleki, 46; and Muntather Alquraishi, 24, as defendants in this high-profile case.
According to the indictment presented to the court, the four defendants were engaged in exchanging food stamps for cash on a regular basis at The Lotto World, also known as Samir’s and Lotto World Convenience, a convenience store located at 832 State Street in Erie. The defendants also allowed customers to pay off store credit with food stamps. Abdul Alquraishi was also using customers’ food stamp cards to buy items at various stores in the area.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both for Abdul Alquraishi, Hussain K. Al-Maliki, and Dhia Almaleki. Meanwhile, Muntather Alquraishi faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigations, and the Erie Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is now in the hands of the courts, and the public awaits the outcome.
The indictment also raises questions about the extent of food stamp fraud in the region. The convenience store at the center of the allegations has been the subject of previous complaints, with some customers reporting suspicious transactions.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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