Philadelphia meat market owner charged with food stamp fraud

PHILADELPHIA – An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Inspector General has led to charges against a Philadelphia store owner for allegedly defrauding the government of about $1.13 million.

Saud Saleh, 30, was charged by indictment, with wire fraud and associated charges against the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the federal food stamp program.  The defendant owned and operated Twinz Meat Market, at 3083 Kensington Ave. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

According to the indictment, Saleh engaged in the illegal trafficking in of SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, by purchasing them from customers of Twinz Meat Market in exchange for cash.  The indictment charges that from about July 2010 through approximately December 2012 Saud Saleh sought and received from USDA a redemption of approximately $1.125 million in SNAP benefits.

If convicted, Saleh faces a substantial period of incarceration in addition to an additional three years of supervised release, a fine of approximately $1.8 million, and restitution.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Floyd J. Miller.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.