Ahmed Alshami, owner of a Buffalo, New York deli, is being held on $2 million bail after being arraigned last week on food stamp fraud and burglary charges.
Alshami, who owns the IGA Community Express Mart along with his wife, Nadia Alhaj, was arrested on August 19 and arraigned on August 23 on charges of misuse of food stamps, third-degree burglary, and second-degree criminal possession of public benefit cards.
After his court hearing, Alshami’s daughter flipped off local reporters while his while was caught on camera yelling, “Are you happy now? F*ck you. F*ck America.”
The Erie County District Attorney’s Office said that from October 9, 2014 to March 21, 2016 Alshami allegedly bought EBT (food stamp) cards from costumers and traded them out for cash. Investigators said Alshami would encourage costumers to use their EBT cards to purchase items for him from Walmart, and other “big box” stores.
The illegal purchases totaled nearly $4,000.
The Erie County DA also alleges that Alshami broke into an unoccupied rental property and stole the kitchen cabinets, hot water tank, and baseboard heating units.
Alshami pleaded not guilty to the burglary charges and the misuse of food stamps.
Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter @jeromeehudson
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