A Minneapolis grocery store owner is facing serious felony charges in a major food assistance fraud case. Abdid-Wahid Mohamed allegedly used other people’s EBT cards to rake in over a million dollars.
EBT, or Electronic Benefits Transfer, works like a debit card for low-income families receiving government assistance. Investigators claim Mohamed owned Minnesota Food Grocery LLC and was spotted buying groceries like energy drinks and baby formula using EBT cards that weren’t his.
After purchasing these items, he reportedly filled his vehicles and brought the goods back to his store to sell. One witness, identified as F.F., told authorities that she hadn’t paid for groceries there in over a year and a half, after allowing Mohamed to use her card.
The charges indicate that between March and August 2021, Mohamed made $1,141,082 in EBT transactions. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Peter Wold, a defense attorney who works on fraud cases, commented on the delays surrounding the charges. He explained that the case wasn’t submitted for prosecution until April 2026, leading to questions about why it took so long. “He’s presumed innocent, so I don’t know what he did or why it would be more difficult for him to find his witnesses,” Wold said.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office expressed its commitment to holding Mohamed accountable for what they called a deliberate act of theft that undermines vital resources meant for low-income families.
In recent years, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) fraud cases have been on the rise, with 19 such incidents reported in Minnesota in the last five years. This alarming trend has prompted the USDA to take action. They’re enhancing program integrity and fraud prevention efforts by implementing new measures like EBT chip cards and mobile payment systems to curb fraud.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins stated, “To operate with integrity, we must protect taxpayer funds.” The USDA is collaborating with federal partners to investigate and prosecute fraud cases.
As this case unfolds, it highlights the ongoing struggle between ensuring assistance for those in need and preventing abuse of resources meant to help families put food on the table.
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Crime,EBT,Kamaria Braye,Minneapolis,What The Fraud
