Laith Kadhem, Food Stamp Fraud, Pennsylvania 2021

ERIE, Pa. - In a shocking turn of events, Laith Kadhem, 36, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with the Erie Fresh Meat Market in Erie, Pennsylvania.

According to court documents, Kadhem, along with his co-defendant, Haydar Al-Kofi, conspired to defraud the United States by filing an application containing false information for a license to accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits and accepting food stamps for cash and ineligible items from in and around March 2016 to in and around September 2017.

The scheme, which was uncovered by the Pittsburgh Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a multi-agency partnership established to focus on high-impact criminal investigations, involved the use of fraudulent documents and public benefits fraud.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, US Department of State-Diplomatic Security Service, US Department of Agriculture- Office of the Inspector General, US Department of Labor- Office of the Inspector General, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.

Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Judge Stephanie L Haines scheduled sentencing for July 16, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Pending sentencing, Kadhem was continued on bond.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/owner-erie-fresh-meat-market-pleads-guilty-food-stamp-fraud