Grocery store owner pleads guilty in food stamp scheme

Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say a Philadelphia man has admitted stealing more than $1.2 million through a food stamp scheme.

Kaher Abdullah pleaded guilty Monday to theft of government funds. He faces up to 10 years in prison when he's sentenced Sept. 13.

Prosecutors say the 57-year-old Abdullah admitted that he and some employees at his small grocery store illegally exchanged food stamp benefits for cash. The money received through these transactions was then moved from the store's bank account to another account which Abdullah used to pay personal expenses.

Abdullah will forfeit $1,264,006 as part of his plea.

Prosecutors say the scheme operated from November 2011 through October 2014. Authorities discovered the scheme after realizing the store's food stamp reimbursement substantially exceeded estimates for businesses of similar size.

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