Philadelphia store owners charged with defrauding food stamp program

PHILADELPHIA — Two grocery store owners were charged Tuesday in a conspiracy to defraud a government assistance program after a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General.

Farhan Ali Abu Siam, 42, and Mohammed Abuawada, 26, both of Philadelphia, were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud against the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as the federal food stamp program.

Abu Siam and Abuawada owned and operated S&S Farmer's Market, a retail grocery store, now defunct, that was located at 2722 Germantown Avenue, in Philadelphia.

According to the indictment, the defendants trafficked SNAP benefits by purchasing them from customers for cash, which is illegal. It is further alleged that from June 2012 until March 2013, as a result of their trafficking activities, the defendants sought and received redemption of more than $1 million in SNAP benefits from USDA.

If convicted, each defendant faces a substantial period of incarceration, restitution to the government, three years of supervised release and possible fines.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Crawley.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.