Wahdan Brothers Nabbed in $200K Food Stamp Scam

BROOK PARK, OH – Greed trumped need in Cleveland, as brothers Saed (Sam) Wahdan, 42, and Maher (Mario) Wahdan, 43, were each sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for systematically defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. The duo pocketed illicit gains by exchanging benefits for ineligible items like beer and cigarettes at four stores they operated, according to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steven M. Dettelbach.

The scheme, spanning from January 2008 to March 2012, involved the Wahdans’ businesses – One Stop Beverage (5105 Franklin Blvd.), Bridge Deli and Beverage (4700 Bridge Ave.), Franklin Beverage and Deli (4719 Franklin Blvd.), and Scott Food Mart (951 Linn Drive). Court documents reveal the brothers cleverly concealed their ownership through front men, attempting to bypass restrictions stemming from prior convictions. Saed Wahdan had a previous conviction for food stamp trafficking, while Maher Wahdan was previously convicted of impersonating an officer – both disqualifying them from participating in the SNAP program.

“These defendants used a program designed to help hungry people to instead line their pockets,” Dettelbach stated bluntly. “We will continue to work eradicate waste, fraud and abuse of government programs.” The brothers weren’t just accepting food stamps for booze and smokes; they were also buying SNAP cards from customers at a discount and using them to purchase inventory for their stores and even for personal expenses. The brazen operation highlights a callous disregard for the intended recipients of the assistance.

The Wahdans pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud, one count of food stamp fraud, and two counts of unlawful redemption of food stamps. Maher Wahdan also faced an additional charge – theft of public funds. Beyond the prison sentences, each brother has been ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution, a small measure of accountability for the damage inflicted on a vital social safety net.

Nidal Jaber, 46, also of Brook Park, wasn’t spared either. He received 10 months of home confinement for his involvement in the conspiracy, serving as an accomplice in the Wahdans’ scheme. This wasn’t a lone incident, but a coordinated effort to exploit a system meant to feed families, turning it into a personal cash cow.

The investigation, spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General-Investigations and Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christos N. Georgalis, Vasile Katsaros, and James Morford, sends a clear message: exploiting federal programs for personal gain will be met with swift and severe consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and expose the underbelly of federal crime.