Three North Olmsted men indicted on food stamp trafficking

A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted three North Olmsted residents Aug. 13 in connection with two Cleveland businesses buying stolen property and food stamp cards.

Yousef Allan, 29, was indicted on five counts of illegal use of food stamps and one count of telecommunication fraud, both fifth-degree felonies, five counts of receiving stolen property and one count of theft, both first-degree misdemeanors, according to a news release from the Ohio Investigative Unit.

Nafiz Allen, 39, was indicted on seven counts of illegal use of food stamps and two counts of receiving stolen property.

Hamdy Mohammad, 20, was indicted on three counts of illegal use of food stamps, one count of telecommunication fraud, three counts of receiving stolen property and one count of theft, the release said.

In March 2019, The Ohio Investigative Unit and the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General conducted search warrants at Kwik Check Deli, 3548 Fulton Road, and Cricket Wireless, 3552 Fulton Road, both in Cleveland.

Agents received a complaint regarding owners and employees in the Kwik Check Deli purchasing stolen items and reselling them in the store, the release said.

During the investigation, agents were also directed to the Cricket Wireless store located next to Kwik Check Deli.

Agents discovered employees from that store were also trafficking in food stamp benefits, the release said.

“These individuals take benefits intended for families in need and use them for their own personal profit,” said Greg A. Croft, Cleveland agent-in-charge of the Ohio Investigative Unit. “Fraudulent use of food stamps impacts families who need assistance, as well as taxpayers.”