A Wichita grocery store owner has admitted his role in a scheme to defraud the federal food stamp program. Ahmed Ajami Al-Maleki, the owner of the Kansas Food Market, pleaded guilty today (MON) to conspiracy and fraud. The U-S Attorney’s office says Al-Maleki paid people in cash for half the value of their food stamps, then kept the difference for himself. Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Secretary Robert Siedlecki (SIDE-leck-ee) hopes this case will deter people from defrauding the agency
A staff member at SRS noticed a suspicious number of food stamp transactions at the grocery store and reported it last year. Prosecutors accused Al-Maleki of fraudulently making $130,000 in deals with at least 100 people. A judge has set sentencing for November. Another Wichita grocery store is also being prosecuted on similar charges.