Minnesota Police: ‘Abdidwahid Mohamed’ Used More Than $1M in Other People’s EBT Cards at Costco and Sold the Merchandise in His Store

Charges Filed Against Minnesota Man for Food Stamp Fraud

A man from Minnesota is facing criminal charges linked to a significant food stamp fraud operation that allegedly misappropriated millions in taxpayer money.

Abdidwahid Mohamed, who runs Minnesota Food Grocery LLC, reportedly utilized EBT cards belonging to other individuals in 2021 to buy goods at retailers like Sam’s Club and Costco, only to sell them quickly in his own stores.

Authorities in Hennepin County observed Mohamed shopping and tracked him as he returned with the items. Surveillance footage and GPS data supported their observations. However, many EBT cardholders claimed they were overseas or had never visited the stores associated with their cards.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which Mohamed is accused of exploiting, is designed to provide food assistance to low-income households through EBT cards that operate similar to debit cards.

The official complaint mentions that Mohamed received over $1.1 million in EBT payments, suggesting the scheme was quite sophisticated and took place over an extended timeframe.

If found guilty, Mohamed faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of $100,000. This case adds to a growing list of individuals who have exploited the food stamp system before facing legal repercussions.

Dalia Al-Aqidi, a Republican candidate challenging Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, remarked on the situation, saying, “It’s no coincidence that Minneapolis has become the fraud capital of America. This week, a grocery store was implicated in charging $1.1 million to someone else’s EBT card. The burden always falls on the Minnesotans who pay their taxes.”

Al-Aqidi expressed personal distress over financial challenges, noting that some individuals engage in criminal activity while living lavish lives elsewhere. She criticized the ongoing issues with fraud in Minnesota and emphasized the need for action to resolve these problems.

Recent food stamp fraud cases have been uncovered, alongside various illegal activities targeted by recent administrations. For instance, last February, four Venezuelan immigrants in Massachusetts were indicted for allegedly orchestrating $1 million in SNAP fraud across multiple states.

Leah Foley, the U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts, indicated that food stamp fraud is a widespread issue affecting several states and Puerto Rico, often involving the use of stolen personal information.