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Ohio Imam laundered $2m in food stamp fraud, authories say
Police seized a bank account was controlled by Al-Idu Al-Gaheem, the owner of some Dayton View neighborhood businesses and Imam of a local mosque, according to search warrant affidavits filed in a series of food stamp fraud raids Tuesday. The account contained less than $100,000 in it at the time of the seizure, but authorities believe Al-Gaheem illegally laundered $2 million through the account. Most of the money is alleged to have come from illegal Food Stamp trafficking. Federal and state informants bought drugs and firearms and sold food stamp cards for cash, generally 50 cents on the dollar of benefits during an investigation that began in 2009. Warrants were served at Riverview Cell & Cup of Dreams, Five Pillars Market, and agents searched the Masjid-At-Taqwa mosque and the nearby house of the mosque's Imam, Al-Gaheen. Five Pillars, and Riverview Cell & Cup of Dreams are owned by Al-Gaheem, who declined to comment Wednesday. No charges have been filed and no one was arrested. Al-Gaheem stated in his initial application to handle the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamp program, the store/cafe's annual income was $70,000 a year. Yet from January 2009 through November 2010, Five Pillars received $2.5 million from the program. In addition, Gross stated in the affidavit that $910,000 in cash was withdrawn by Al-Gaheem from the bank account between Feb. 13, 2010, and Nov. 30, 2010. Further analysis showed that 96 percent of the $2.7 million in the account on Nov. 10. 2010, came from food stamp payments from the federal government. How much of it went to the Widows Ammunition Fund charity in Gaza? Using various formulas, Gross said accounting experts concluded that anywhere from $895,861 to almost $2 million, depending on the store's markup, in food stamp charges could not be explained. Confidential informants went to Five Pillars Market and were able to purchase counterfeit brand-name clothing items and cigarettes using food stamp cards, purchase a handgun from a store employee for $500, sell food stamp benefits to a store employee for cash, and purchase $1,500 worth of crack cocaine from an employee. Additional raids at Food City, a convenience store, and A&M Meats Inc., were not related to those at Al-Gaheem's businesses but court records indicate a similar pattern in alleged illegal activity. Ali Saleh, the owner of Food City, said Wednesday he had no knowledge that one of his employees was allegedly engaged in illegal activity. "I am very, very innocent," Saleh said. "I had nothing to do with this. I know it was my store, but it was out of my control." Store management for A&M Meats, Inc., declined comment. Omar Yahya, kitchen manager for Five Pillars Market, who allegedly sold the informant a handgun for $500, said Wednesday he did nothing illegal and the business is a pillar of the community. "Somebody must have put the bug in the wrong ear, because I don't know anyone in that store that would (sell crack cocaine). I am not saying we are angels, but ... It's not like we have a store that is a front for some other illegal operation." "I'm a respectable businessman. I own a flower shop", said the Mafiosa underboss. Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-05-14 |
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