A brazen food stamp scheme in New Orleans has been brought to a close, with three individuals sentenced for their roles in defrauding the U.S. government of over $1 million.
Taysir Muhammad, 46, of Kenner, was sentenced to 34 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his part in the scheme.
His co-conspirators, Eugene Tumbs, 68, and his daughter Kathy Tumbs, 45, both of New Orleans, received five years of probation.
The trio was ordered to pay a total of $1,080,575.40 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The scheme involved operating a corner store at the intersection of Frenchmen and North Derbigny Streets in New Orleans, called the Frenchmen Meat Market, which participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
However, the defendants allowed customers to use food stamps for ineligible products and for cash, charging a fee for the service.
They then transferred funds from the store’s bank account into separate bank accounts by structuring transactions to avoid reporting requirements.
Between April 2012 and May 2014, the defendants defrauded the government of over $1 million in food stamp benefits.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite praised the work of the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in investigating the matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Payne was in charge of the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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