A Minnesota grocery store owner faces up to 20 years in prison after authorities charged him with orchestrating a sophisticated food stamp fraud scheme that siphoned over $1.1 million in taxpayer dollars through fraudulent EBT card purchases at major retailers.
How the Fraud Worked
Hennepin County authorities arrested Abdidwahid Mohamed after surveillance footage captured him making large purchases at Costco using other people’s Electronic Benefits Transfer cards. Investigators followed Mohamed from the warehouse retailer back to his own store, where he allegedly resold the goods for profit. GPS tracking data and store records confirmed the pattern of illegal activity occurred repeatedly over an extended period.
“Minnesota Police: ‘Abdidwahid Mohamed’ Spent $1M+ with Others’ EBT Cards at Costco, Resold Goods”
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The criminal complaint revealed Mohamed accumulated $1,141,082 in EBT payments while investigators discovered many cardholders were either out of the country during the alleged purchases or claimed they never shopped at the stores in question. The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, provides assistance to low-income households through cards that function like debit cards for food purchases. Prosecutors noted the scheme involved a high degree of sophistication and planning.
Political Fallout and Broader Context
Republican congressional candidate Dalia al-Aqidi, challenging Representative Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s 5th District, seized on the case as evidence of systemic problems. She told Fox News Digital that Minneapolis earned its reputation as a fraud capital through cases like this. Al-Aqidi argued that while Minnesota families struggle with affordability, fraud money ends up funding luxury purchases overseas. She criticized state officials including Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison for failing to stop widespread fraud despite years of promises.
National Pattern Emerges
The Minnesota case represents part of a broader crackdown on public assistance fraud. Last February, federal prosecutors charged four Venezuelan migrants in Massachusetts with a million-dollar, multi-state SNAP fraud operation using stolen identities. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley revealed similar schemes operating across six states and Puerto Rico. The Trump administration has prioritized investigating these fraudulent networks that drain taxpayer resources intended for legitimate food assistance programs. Mohamed faces potential fines up to $100,000 in addition to the maximum prison sentence if convicted on all charges.