MUSLIM convenience store owners involved in food stamp fraud all around the country

MINNESOTA: Khaffak Sahib Ansari, 45, the Muslim owner of a St. Paul market was indicted in Minneapolis Federal Court Wednesday for illegal trafficking of about $3 million in food stamps.

CBS LOCAL – The indictment alleges that between January 2006 and Oct. 7, 2010, Ansari exchanged food stamps for money and ineligible merchandise.

The USDA authorized his market to accept food stamps in 1998, and Ansari told authorities that he attended retailer orientation and understood the rules behind food stamps. Every person who receives food stamps gets an electronic card which contains monthly allocated funds that can be used at authorized stores.

Inspectors began investigating the Stryker Avenue Market in 2008. It was discovered that on several occasions, Ansari allegedly exchanged food stamps for cash and ineligible items. One count in the indictment alleges that on July 16, 2008, Ansari swiped a food stamps card for $401, and gave the person back $200 in cash.

Court documents also listed that between 2004 and 2009, the average food stamp redemption for a store of similar size was just less than $324,000. Stryker’s redemptions during that time period came out to about $3.1 million.

OHIO: Muslim store owners and mosques hit by police raids for food stamp fraud and stolen weapons.

Muslims complain it is an “attack on their religion.”

WYOMING: Two Muslim brothers were indicted by the feds for allegedly scamming food stamp money, pocketing the profits and sending it to other countries known for supporting terrorism.

INDIANA: Cops raided several businesses and arrested 5 mostly Muslim men in food stamp fraud and selling counterfeit goods. A 6th man, Mohammed, fled to Yemen.

FLORIDA: Muslim father and son face 64 counts of racketeering and food stamp fraud from their convenience store.

MISSISSIPPI: Muslim convenience store owner arrested for massive food stamp fraud.