Four men from Northeast Ohio have been charged in a food stamp and WIC fraud scheme, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General.
The indictment alleges that Bashir Mohamed, 31, of Cleveland; Yusuf Maalin, 45, of Cleveland; Ali Shire Ahmed, 54, of North Olmsted, Ohio; and Farah Hasan Warsame, 27, of Cleveland conspired to illegally allow customers to redeem food stamp and WIC benefits at Bashir Market, 8401 Detroit Avenue, in exchange for cash, ineligible items, and credit towards overseas wire transfers.
Mohamed, Maalin, and Warsame allegedly worked at the market and redeemed the food stamp and WIC benefits for the cash, unauthorized items, or credit towards overseas funds transfers. The credit for overseas funds transfers was tracked on a ledger kept at the market, according to the indictment.
Mohamed or Maalin would then provide Ahmed with cash or a check that Ahmed would take to Columbus, Ohio, to send overseas by wire transfer. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy involved the attempted redemption of approximately $670,612 in food stamp and WIC benefits, according to the indictment.
The conspiracy took place between 2008 and last year, according to the indictment. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Mohamed, Maalin, Ahmed, and Warsame are also charged with counts of food stamp fraud, unlawful food stamp redemptions, and WIC fraud. Ahmed is charged with one count of money laundering.
The indictment results from an investigation conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Defendant information:
Defendant: Bashir Mohamed, Ali Shire Ahmed, Yusuf Maalin, Farah Hasan Warsame
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to defraud the food stamp and Women, Infants and Children programs, Food stamp fraud, Unlawful food stamp redemptions, WIC fraud, Money laundering
City and State: Cleveland, Ohio
Date: Not specified
Sentence or Outcome: Ongoing investigation
Dollar amounts: $670,612
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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