⏱ 2 min read
Four men in South Florida have been charged with running a massive scheme to defraud the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) out of $19 million. Rajaie Ahmad Ali, 63, Sami Jamhour, 43, Cristian Giovanni Amaro, 27, and Adel Amro, 23, allegedly conspired to traffic SNAP benefits through authorized retail stores in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties from July 2019 to May 2026. The defendants are accused of exchanging food assistance benefits for cash, exploiting a program designed to help low-income families.
The scheme involved the defendants using SNAP-authorized stores to launder the fraudulently obtained benefits, generating over $19 million in illicit proceeds. The investigation was led by the USDA-OIG, in partnership with the DOJ and other federal, state, and local agencies.
According to U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones, the defendants’ actions were a blatant abuse of a program intended to support vulnerable citizens. The USDA-OIG Inspector General John Walk emphasized that the scheme was outrageous and that those who conspire to steal from needy Americans will be held accountable.
The charges against the four men mark a significant crackdown on SNAP fraud in Florida, highlighting the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat public benefits fraud and protect taxpayer-funded programs.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Florida
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
