Trump administration uncovers food stamp bribe and fraud scheme
Michael Kehoe, Mohamad Nawafleh, Omar Alrawashdeh, Gamal Obaid, Emad Alrawashdeh and Arlasa Davis are accused of misappropriating millions of dollars of taxpayer funds intended for food stamps. Kehoe established a network that linked 160 unauthorized electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to stores across New York. The group is also charged with creating false applications and misappropriating license numbers.
From Fox News:
The defendants — Michael Kehoe, Mohamad Nawafleh, Omar Alrawashdeh, Gamal Obaid, Emad Alrawashdeh and Arlasa Davis — are accused of “conspiracy to steal government funds and to misappropriate U.S. Department of Agriculture benefits,” according to a press release.
Starting in 2019, the indictment states that Kehoe created a network that supplied 160 unauthorized electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to stores across the New York area, to illegally process more than $30 million in EBT transactions.
“This fraud was made possible when USDA employee Arlasa Davis betrayed the public trust by selling confidential government information to the very criminals she was supposed to catch. Their actions undermined a program that vulnerable New Yorkers depend on for basic nutrition,” U.S. Attorney Perry Carbone said in the media release.
“These charges should be a reminder that those who exploit anti-poverty programs for personal gain will be held accountable for their crimes,” Carbone expanded.
The group also allegedly created fraudulent USDA applications, misappropriated license numbers and, in some cases, doctored application documents for unauthorized stores.
“That is no longer going to be allowed here in Washington, and with these programs like the food stamp program. So we’re going to move forward, obviously in partnership with the FBI, with the Department of Justice, of course our team at USDA. This is not the ‘one and only,'” Rollins said. “There are going to be many more to come, and we’re gonna make sure that we’re delivering on our promises to the taxpayers.”
Additional Reading:
Altus, K. (2025, May 30). Trump agency uncovers ‘one of the largest’ food stamp fraud, bribery schemes. Fox News. Link.
Category: Crime, Government Incompetence, Liberals suck, Society
