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Convenience Store Clerk Pleads Guilty To Food Stamp Fraud

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By YOLANDA FERNANDEZ | News Channel 8

Published: March 25, 2009

A Clearwater convenience store clerk pleaded guilty today to charges he bought hundreds of thousands of dollars of food stamps from customers at a discount.

So far, 27 of his former customers also have been arrested.

Naushad Shahabuddin, 33, who ran the Quick Check Food Mart at 701 N. Fort Harrison Ave., faces up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court.

Shahabuddin admitted to unlawfully buying $390,000 in food stamps from customers at less than their face value.

"Individuals knew it was a place to go and they would go in with their card and receive cash instead of making legitimate transactions for food or eggs,"said U.S Secret Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Seybold.

Syebold said customers often they would receive as little as 50 cents on the dollar.

It's illegal to spend Food Stamp benefits on anything but food and seeds to grow food.

Neighbors say the store was extremely busy. They watched as federal agents raided the store last year on July 8th.

Shahabuddin ran the store for the former owner, who lived in Texas. It was sold in December.

The investigation is part of a joint effort by the USDA, the FDLE, and the U.S. Secret Service. There could be more arrests as part of the same case, investigators said.

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