…..”Jihad Jim” was among those arrested.
Longtime readers know that a side issue for me is to follow the immigrant-run convenience stores that end up being busted for food stamp fraud.
Here is a story from Arab American News recently where they took note of the Arab names in the list of those arrested (so it isn’t just me who notices!):
DETROIT — A total of 11 people have been arrested in a recent sweep including one store owner from Dearborn, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara McQuade announced on Wednesday.
The U.S. government has begun focusing more on alleged cases of food stamp fraud during which the stamps can be exchanged for everything from furniture to appliances or even cash at a 50% exchange rate at one location.
Owners of the following stores have been arrested, including numerous Arab Americans; they are Dollar City, Dollar & Party, H&J Fish Market, Caesar Food Center, King Cole Foods and 30th Street Food Market in Detroit; Dollar Palace in Inkster, and Country Farm Market in Pontiac were also involved in arrests. The owner of H&J, Jihad “Jim” Sayed, was among those arrested.
“Taxpayers in Michigan fund the food stamp program to provide food for the needy, not to create a commodity to be traded for profit,” McQuade said in local news reports.
This is not the first time that the Arab American News has taken note of the many Arab names in these busts. This is a story from 2008 that I like to mention from time to time because it is hilarious. A spokesman for the State Attorney General says, nah there is no connection, it’s kind of like biker gangs hanging together.
Here is how the Arab American News began its 2008 report:
DEARBORN Twenty seven people arrested by state police in February for alleged food card fraud all seem to be of Arab descent, judging by their names all recognizable Arab family names.
Calling all investigative reporters, this is a big story, would someone please investigate. I’ve done your research for you—you need only search RRW for dozens of similar stories on ‘food stamp fraud.’ Especially check out the E-2 Treaty Investors racket.