Grocer Jailed for Food Stamp Fraud

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

An Illinois grocer was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in federal prison Monday for defrauding government and nutrition programs. Khaled Saleh, 48, the owner of Sunset Food Market in Waukegan, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle. Saleh, along with his wife, Fatima Saleh, 37, acquired more than $844,000 by paying customers approximately half the value in cash for goods purchased at other stores using their benefits. Then they resold the items at a higher price at their store.

Posted by pirate at 04:31 PM | 34 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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pirate

Joined 2005/09/23
Visited 2013/05/23

Status: user

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Good!

#1 | Posted by KBM at 2013-02-26 10:00 AM | Reply | Flag:

One down, many more to go.

#2 | Posted by danni at 2013-02-26 12:26 PM | Reply | Flag:

....
.... buy low ... sell high ...
..
... that's just capitalism .....

#3 | Posted by skizziks at 2013-02-26 01:33 PM | Reply | Flag:

Well, thank the lord! I was becoming extremely upset over the condition of our "poor" in the U.S. if all this "armageddon" takes place Friday. However, I am relieved to see they are going to be OK:

www.youtube.com

www.theblaze.com

#4 | Posted by jestgettinalong at 2013-02-26 04:45 PM | Reply | Flag:

If Rcade keeping promoting stories like this conservatives are going to have a heart attack (of joy).

#5 | Posted by Tor at 2013-02-26 04:53 PM | Reply | Flag:

If the grocer claims he was only trying to help people the judge has only to ask "then why weren't you buying or selling the food at price?"

#6 | Posted by Tor at 2013-02-26 04:56 PM | Reply | Flag:

They deserved a lot more time than that.

#7 | Posted by JOE at 2013-02-26 05:02 PM | Reply | Flag:

Should have sent him to prison for 10 years at least.

#8 | Posted by gtjr at 2013-02-26 05:05 PM | Reply | Flag:

Gee, every time I've posted about this practice the lefty swarm appears denying any such thing happens.
The food stamp program as it stands today is nothing more than an alcohol and drug subsidy program.

#9 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-26 05:34 PM | Reply | Flag:

2 1/2 years is 8 years too short

#10 | Posted by T_Man at 2013-02-26 05:45 PM | Reply | Flag:

A private business committing fraud?!?! No way! I call bullcrap.

Private business people are all hard working, job creating, gawds!

#11 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2013-02-26 05:45 PM | Reply | Flag:

Diablo,

"...nothing more than an alcohol and drug subsidy program."

Have you ever seen a subsidy program the left didn't like?

#12 | Posted by bogey1355 at 2013-02-26 05:46 PM | Reply | Flag:

"People with $7K Worth of Food Stamps"

"Action 4 News uncovers just how many people are on SNAP in the Valley and how much money they are getting."

The report was helped along by a gas station clerk who had grown tired of seeing customers make enormous purchases with their Lone Star cards. In some cases, he says, people would show up and have a balance of at least $7,000 on their cards.

"There are times I see customers come in and they've got thousands,"

"[O]n an average day he sees about 10 different people all with over $2,000 in food stamps, who report to the government they cannot make ends meet," the report notes.

"But they're driving Mercedes," he adds."

www.theblaze.com

#13 | Posted by KBM at 2013-02-26 06:09 PM | Reply | Flag:

"Have you ever seen a subsidy program the left didn't like?"

Corporate for starters.

And then there's all the programs that Trump has abused.

#14 | Posted by Tor at 2013-02-26 06:20 PM | Reply | Flag:

Have you ever seen a subsidy program the left didn't like?

#12 | Posted by bogey1355

Umm, paying corporations to send jobs offshore. Billions for oil companies to do what they are going to do anyways, trillions for defective weapon systems, or weapon systems the military doesn't even want but get stuck in as local pork. And, of course, Tom DeLay's billions for an oil museum. In his district, of course. You know, the ones the Republicans adore.

#15 | Posted by northguy3 at 2013-02-26 07:05 PM | Reply | Flag:

NG3 you forgot to mention the Banksters.

If it was a big bank we would have written THEM a billion dollar check.

Too big to fail or jail so we gotta bail you know.

#16 | Posted by donnerboy at 2013-02-26 08:32 PM | Reply | Flag:

ok, we got that bugger!

can we stop with the foodstamp nazis now?!

#17 | Posted by ichiro at 2013-02-26 10:18 PM | Reply | Flag:

#9 | POSTED BY DIABLO AT 2013-02-26 05:34 PM | REPLY | FLAG:

In the time I have been here.. which is longer than you have been here, I have never once seen anyone claim this never happens. I have seen people on the left claim it's rare and swiftly dealt with, and this very article backs that.

And you are scum for your claim "The food stamp program as it stands today is nothing more than an alcohol and drug subsidy program."

I often defend the Catholic church alongside you because they do not deserve the hatred given to them.... but you, sir, are not even remotely Christlike. You are no example to others; you turn no cheeks. You're just Exps with a different handle as far as I can tell.

#18 | Posted by soheifox at 2013-02-26 10:38 PM | Reply | Flag:

"Corporate for starters."

Shot and a score by Tor! I agree.

#19 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-26 10:56 PM | Reply | Flag:

"And you are scum for your claim 'The food stamp program as it stands today is nothing more than an alcohol and drug subsidy program.'

"I often defend the Catholic church alongside you because they do not deserve the hatred given to them.... but you, sir, are not even remotely Christlike. You are no example to others; you turn no cheeks. You're just Exps with a different handle as far as I can tell."

Please note my words "as it stands today," Soheifox. It changes the tone you assumed.
I have also posted I have no problem with a system of government stores that these cards can be used at to prevent this abuse. Hell, the poor might even get wholesale prices that way!
I have no prob helping the poor. I'd rather it were state than federal but that is only legalism.
I have seen this stuff on almost a daily basis where people come into a bodega and sell that plastic card for a fraction of its worth. What do you think they do with the cash?
It is a subsidy for drugs and alcohol. Sorry, but that's true.

#20 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-26 11:02 PM | Reply | Flag:

Did I miss something here?

These guys were buying products that had been legally purchased by someone else using food stamps, and then selling them at a higher price. While you can criticize these guys for being sheisty, the real crooks, the ones who should be going to jail, are the ones who sold the goods they had purchased with food stamps. Clearly they don't need the food stamps, or they would have been dependent on them to eat.

At the very least, they should be cut off from receiving benefits. At worst, put to hard labor in a chain gang.

Seriously. Did I misread the article or something? WTF are the sellers not being prosecuted?

#21 | Posted by madbomber at 2013-02-26 11:30 PM | Reply | Flag:

As part of my job, I am issued some very, very expensive gear, If I sell it on ebay, who is the criminal? Me or the guy who buys the stuff?

#22 | Posted by madbomber at 2013-02-26 11:31 PM | Reply | Flag:

@ #19

I may have no proof but I'm sure at least a few time corporate leaders have threatened to close plants+ if elected officials don't give them money.

#23 | Posted by Tor at 2013-02-26 11:58 PM | Reply | Flag:

Well, they busted the grocer, and that is okay. But if they went after the cardholders as vehemently the fraud crimes would fade. Fact is, in urban areas where these are giveaway cards, no prosecutor who wants a future in politics (read: no prosecutor) will prosecute the moochers who get the food stamp cards and misuse them.

#24 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-02-27 12:39 AM | Reply | Flag:

" You're just Exps with a different handle as far as I can tell."

Ouch!

#25 | Posted by danni at 2013-02-27 07:51 AM | Reply | Flag:

As far as lefties talking about the fraud in our programs; I bring it up all the time. I even recommend that we, as individuals, have a duty to report it even if it is people we know. Usually though my focus is more on the fraudulent claims for SS disability, and lately I've noticed rightwingers like Bill Maher agree with me.

#26 | Posted by danni at 2013-02-27 07:53 AM | Reply | Flag:

"rightwingers like Bill Maher"

That's funny.

#27 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2013-02-27 09:06 AM | Reply | Flag:

"rightwingers like Bill Maher"
That's funny.
#27 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine

It does speak volumes, does it not?

#28 | Posted by libertarian_gi at 2013-02-27 09:15 AM | Reply | Flag:

It does speak volumes, does it not? #28 | Posted by libertarian_gi

I still remember when Bill Maher got on his knees with Michael Moore begging Ralph Nader not to run in '08 because it would hurt Obama's chances.

#29 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2013-02-27 09:25 AM | Reply | Flag:

Facts are soooooo boring. The wing ding fiction is so much more fun and outrageous.

#30 | Posted by 726 at 2013-02-27 11:28 AM | Reply | Flag:

.....
.... there's non-stop fraud & gouging in the arms industry, and in health care, but no one says that we should stop equipping the military, or close down the hospitals ......
....

#31 | Posted by skizziks at 2013-02-27 01:18 PM | Reply | Flag:

Did Maher and Coulter really date?

#32 | Posted by Tor at 2013-02-27 04:35 PM | Reply | Flag:

I don't think what Maher and Coulter would actually do with each other could actually be considered dating...more like testing the integrity of the San Andreas fault.

#33 | Posted by madscientist at 2013-02-27 05:10 PM | Reply | Flag:

I like his name!

#34 | Posted by parjosg2 at 2013-02-27 05:17 PM | Reply | Flag: