Ill. convenience store owner charged with food-stamps crime

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By Brian Brueggemann | Belleville News-Democrat

Prosecutors say a manager of a Washington Park convenience store ran a food stamps-for-cash scam that cost the federal government $1.5 million.

Rami Mohammad, 32, a Jordanian citizen who lives in O'Fallon, was charged Tuesday in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis with food stamp fraud and wire fraud. Mohammad has been the manager of the Quick Stop store in Washington Park.

U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton said Mohammad accepted and redeemed food stamps in exchange for lesser amounts of cash, instead of eligible food items.

Read the complete story at bnd.com

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