PROVIDENCE – The owner of Oasis Market convenience store pleaded guilty to a million-dollar food stamp fraud scheme.
Sami Almuhtaseb, 45, of Smithfield, admitted in federal court on April 15 to defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of more than $1.1 million. He said that he allowed SNAP recipients to exchange food stamp benefits for cash, in return charging them a surcharge, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Between November 2009 and December 2015, the defendant’s store redeemed $2,755,125 in SNAP benefits. More than $1,259,320.99, or 45 percent, of the food stamp transactions were for amounts of $100 or more. •
