A Minnesota grocer faces up to 20 years in prison after authorities charged him with orchestrating a sophisticated food stamp fraud scheme that allegedly drained over $1.1 million in taxpayer funds through stolen EBT cards.
How the Scheme Operated
Hennepin County authorities say Abdidwahid Mohamed used stolen Electronic Benefit Transfer cards to make large purchases at Costco, then resold the goods in his own store for profit. Investigators followed Mohamed from Costco back to his business, documenting the operation through surveillance footage and GPS tracking data. The criminal complaint reveals many of the legitimate cardholders were either out of the country during the alleged fraudulent transactions or deny ever shopping at the stores Mohamed frequented.
“Minnesota Police: ‘Abdidwahid Mohamed’ Spent $1M+ with Others’ EBT Cards at Costco, Resold Goods”
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Political Fallout in Minnesota
Republican congressional candidate Dalia al-Aqidi, running against Representative Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s 5th District, seized on the case as evidence of systemic problems. She told Fox News Digital that Minneapolis has earned its reputation as a fraud capital through repeated incidents. Al-Aqidi criticized state officials including Omar, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Governor Tim Walz for failing to effectively combat fraud despite years of promises. She argued taxpayer money intended to help struggling families instead funds luxury purchases abroad.
Part of Broader Pattern
The Mohamed case represents just one example in a growing wave of SNAP fraud prosecutions nationwide. Federal authorities charged four Venezuelan migrants in Massachusetts last February with a separate million-dollar food stamp fraud scheme spanning multiple states and Puerto Rico. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley disclosed that investigators have uncovered similar operations across six states, all exploiting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through stolen identities and fraudulent transactions.
Maximum Penalties Ahead
Prosecutors note the alleged scheme involved a high degree of sophistication and planning, occurring over an extended period. If convicted, Mohamed faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment or a $100,000 fine. The case adds to mounting pressure on state and federal officials to strengthen oversight of benefits programs and close loopholes that enable large-scale fraud. Local taxpayers continue expressing frustration that money designated for food assistance gets diverted while legitimate families struggle with rising costs.
