A Minnesota grocer faces up to 20 years in prison after prosecutors charged him with orchestrating a sophisticated food stamp fraud scheme that allegedly drained over $1.1 million in taxpayer funds. Authorities say the suspect used stolen EBT cards to make bulk purchases at Costco, then resold the goods at his own store for profit.
How the Scheme Operated
Hennepin County authorities observed Abdidwahid Mohamed making large purchases with Electronic Benefits Transfer cards at wholesale retailers, then tracked him back to his store with the merchandise. Investigators discovered many of the EBT cardholders whose accounts he allegedly accessed were either out of the country or denied ever shopping at the stores where the transactions occurred. Surveillance footage and GPS tracking data corroborated the prosecution’s case against Mohamed.
“Minnesota Police: ‘Abdidwahid Mohamed’ Spent $1M+ with Others’ EBT Cards at Costco, Resold Goods”
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According to the criminal complaint, Mohamed received $1,141,082 in EBT payments through the fraudulent activity. Prosecutors described the operation as involving a high degree of planning and sophistication, noting it continued over an extended period. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food assistance to low-income households through cards that function like debit cards at authorized retailers.
Political Fallout and Fraud Concerns
Dalia al-Aqidi, a Republican congressional candidate challenging Representative Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s 5th District, told Fox News Digital that Minneapolis earned its reputation as a fraud hub. She argued that hardworking taxpayers foot the bill while fraudsters exploit programs meant to help struggling families. Aqidi claimed the money meant for genuine assistance ends up funding luxury purchases overseas instead of helping local families who desperately need support.
The candidate blamed state and local officials, including Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Representative Omar, for failing to prevent widespread fraud. She pledged to address the problem at the federal level if elected to Congress.
Broader Pattern of SNAP Fraud
This case follows similar prosecutions nationwide as the Trump administration increases scrutiny of benefit fraud. Last February, four Venezuelan migrants faced charges in Massachusetts for a million-dollar, multi-state SNAP fraud operation using stolen identities. Federal prosecutors revealed such schemes operate across multiple states and Puerto Rico, systematically defrauding programs designed to assist Americans facing food insecurity. The Minnesota case represents another example of how organized criminals exploit weaknesses in benefit distribution systems.