3 arrested in connection to food stamp fraud operation

PHOENIX - Three people were arrested for allegedly conducting an undercover food stamp operation at a convenience store.

51-year-old Kameel Sweiss, 22-year-old Ameer Sweiss and 33-year-old Faday Sweiss work at K & S convenience store near 27th Avenue and Bethany Home Road.

"This business was stealing taxpayer money by allowing a person with a food stamp card to purchase something small, such as a bag of chips, and then overcharge that card to make a fraudulent profit," said Attorney General Tom Horne.

After searching the Sweiss' Peoria home on Wednesday, authorities say they found $32,876 in cash, a key to a private bank vault that held $550,480 in cash, bank records and accounts, extraneous food stamp cards, business ledgers and three vehicles.

The three are accused of allegedly being involved in trading food stamp benefits for cash.

All three suspects face charges of Illegally Conducting an Enterprise, Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, Money Laundering, Unlawful Use of Food Stamps and Computer Tampering.

They're being held on $100,000 bonds and will have to wear an ankle monitor if they post bond.

Authorities say this is the state's largest-ever seizure in an undercover food stamp operation.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/23290640/2013/08/29/3-arrested-in-connection-to