Two Somali brothers plead guilty to $400,000 food-stamp scheme

Two Somalia natives accused in a $400,000 food-stamp scheme pleaded guilty this morning to federal charges.

Mohamed Sufi and his brother, Omar Sufi, were accused of defrauding federal food assistance programs and running an illegal money transfer business.

The government said the brothers, owners of Halal Depot, 650 28th St. SW, redeemed electronic food stamps for cash and non-food items, taking 30 percent in commissions. They allegedly took up to 50 percent from benefits under the Women, Infants and Children programs.

The brothers also allegedly wired thousands of dollars to hot spots in the Middle East and Africa. The brothers accepted funds from others, charging 6 to 7 percent, while operating an unlicensed money transfer business, or “hawala,” from their store, the government said. They purposely kept transactions below $10,000 so that financial institutions would not file currency transactions reports to the Internal Revenue Service, according to a plea agreement.

Mohamed Sufi pleaded guilty to conspiracy, food-stamp fraud and operating an unlicensed money transfer business. Omar Sufi pleaded guilty to those charges and three charges of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements.

They will be sentenced later by U.S. District Judge Janet Neff.

Source:- The Grand Rapids Press.