Food Stamps

The Phoenix police have arrested three people and seized over $600,000 in cash due to a connection with a food stamp fraud operation at a local convenience store according to authorities. Kameel Sweiss and his sons were arrested on Wednesday in suspicion of illegally conducting an enterprise. It is believed that they were participating in money laundering, fraud schemes, computer tampering, and unlawful use of food stamps. Authorities are saying that the investigation has provided the largest monetary seizure related to food stamp fraud in Arizona history.

Sweiss owns the convenience store where the alleged schemes were taking place. The man’s sons also work at the convenience store. Authorities claim that the men were overcharging food stamp cards. Sometimes they would give cash back to the cardholder in exchange for the amount of value that may have remained on the card. People who were going to the convenience store were basically selling their cards to the three men that were working there, leading to the fraud.

The Phoenxi Police Department used search warrants early on Wednesday morning at the Sweiss household and then at the convenience store. Some of the evidence that was gained included $32,876 in cash and a key to a private bank vault. The bank vault had $550,480 in cash present. Additional evidence that was collected included bank accounts and records, business ledgers, extraneous food stamp cards, and three vehicles. The investigation took months to lead up to this point. It was coordinated as an undercover operation of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, as well as the U.S Department of Agriculture, Phoenix Police Department, Office of the Inspector General, and the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

The occurrence comes at a time when many are questioning the relevance of food stamp fraud. A recent report suggested that food stamp fraud had risen, although when it was further researched, many discovered that the information was used out of context and that food stamp fraud has dropped significantly since the 1990s. Although food stamp fraud continues to be an issue and situations like these happen throughout the country, it is less of a common occurrence than many people would expect. However, food stamp fraud remains to be a concern for the government because it means that there is ultimately a large loss of money and no way for the government to make up for that loss.

People who suspect that food stamp fraud may be occurring in their region are always encouraged to get in contact with the authorities and let them know what’s going on. The issue with many occurrences of food stamp fraud is that it is very difficult for the authorities to be able to police what is going on in businesses such as the convenience store mentioned here. It’s important for people who suspect fraudulent activity to go to the police or another source of authority and inform them of what is going on so that investigations like these can continue and ensure that criminals are brought to justice.