November 21, 2008, - 10:36 am
Religion of Food Stamp Fraud, Episode #58,948
By Debbie Schlussel
It never ends because we continue to let thousands of these people in and then to pander and bend over backward and forward to them once they’re here. Fortunately, the Michigan State Police has a special unit for this kind of fraud, headed by Det. Lt. Marty Bugbee, that is cracking down on this kind of stuff.
A Dearborn couple has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud in a scheme that netted more than $1 million.
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Fatima Shalhout, 43, and her husband, Wasfi Shalhout, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering involving a scheme to defraud the United States Department of Agriculture of $1,261,943 in food stamp benefits from May 2005 to February 2008.
Fatima Shalhout was the president of Ranyah Management, doing business as Ann’s Market in Detroit. Wasfi Shalhout was operations and business manager.
The couple illegally paid food stamp users cash in exchange for the food stamp benefits on their debit cards.
Fatima Shalhout faces 46 to 57 months in prison, and Wasfi Shalhout faces 57 to 71 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
Let’s hope they throw the book at these two. But don’t bet on it. I’ve seen so many of these cases, in which the judge has mercy on these Islamist defrauders, who claim they need to stay home to take care of the kids . . . as if no other criminals in America have kids.
I’m sure that new AG Eric Holder will see to it that these convicts serve out a harsh sentence in the style and tradition of a Marc Rich or those FALN guys.
P. Aaron on November 21, 2008 at 2:33 pm