Philadelphia - a federal jury in Philadelphia convicted Abdoulaye Diallo on all counts of an indictment charging him with defrauding the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, and with conspiring to do so, announced Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen. Diallo owned and operated the Brothers Food Market, a grocery store on Germantown Avenue near Venango Street in Philadelphia. The jury convicted Diallo of conspiring with another individual to buy SNAP benefits for cash from those who had SNAP benefit cards (also known as PA Access cards) between September 2011 and February 2015. The jury also found Diallo guilty of exchanging SNAP benefits for cash on five different dates during that period, each of which constituted wire fraud and SNAP benefit fraud. The amount of money charged to the SNAP Program varied from $300 to almost $600 for each transaction.
The case was tried before United States District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe. Judge Rufe will sentence the defendant at a later date. The court did not set a sentencing date.
Diallo’s convictions were on six counts of wire fraud, six counts of defrauding the SNAP Program, and one count of conspiracy to do so. Diallo faces a maximum sentence of 20 years on each wire fraud count, and five years imprisonment on each SNAP fraud count and on the one conspiracy count. The court could also impose a fine, order forfeiture and order that Diallo pay restitution.
The SNAP Program is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. It is intended to provide funds to assist low income families in purchasing food.
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Agriculture and by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Philadelphia Police Department. The case was tried by Assistant United States Attorneys Floyd J. Miller and Albert S. Glenn.