Wayne couple charged in $4 million food stamp fraud at Paterson store

A Wayne couple illegally exchanged more than $4 million in food stamps for cash at a Paterson store during a three-year period, authorities charged on Monday.

Ibrahim Zughbi, 64, previously owned Neighborhood Supermarket in Paterson before it became Jamaica Meat Market but was disqualified in 2011 from involvement in food stamp, or SNAP, operations due to violations, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Zughbi and his wife, Miriam Zughbi, 59, then became managers of the rebranded Jamaica Meat Market, despite the new owner claiming Ibrahim Zughbi would have no involvement in the business or its participation in SNAP, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

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Participating stores can exchange SNAP benefits for food, but not for cash. From 2014 to 2017, the Zughbis were accused of exchanging more than $4 million in SNAP benefits for cash.

The high number of SNAP redemptions at Jamaica Food Market appeared suspicious to authorities. A confidential source, at the direction of law enforcement, completed 16 SNAP benefit-for-cash transactions at the store, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Ibrahim Zughbi was also charged with money laundering after the bank account of Jamaica Meat Market showed payments of more than $471,000 to him and various family members, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com