A Brooklyn convenience store operator is at the center of what Ohio prosecutors describe as a cross-state SNAP fraud operation that quietly drained more than $643,000 in benefits from Ohio families. A Cuyahoga County grand jury has indicted 52-year-old Raed Subhi Abu Mohammad, accusing his business of running 2,823 bogus EBT transactions between March 1, 2024, and Jan. 14, 2025. He was arrested in New York and now faces extradition to Ohio for arraignment in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Allegations and charges
According to WKBN, the indictment identifies the business as Hot Spot Convenience 2 and lays out a slate of felony charges, including illegal use of SNAP benefits, telecommunications fraud, aggravated theft, and money laundering. Investigators say the pattern and volume of redemptions raised red flags and led them to seek forfeiture of what they allege are ill-gotten gains.
State moves to block out-of-state theft
Ohio officials, who have been trying to clamp down on similar scams, have rolled out new automatic protections on EBT cards that default to blocking out-of-state and online purchases. As detailed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, cardholders now have to actively unlock their Ohio Direction Card if they want to use it outside the state. The agency is also pushing users to turn on the ConnectEBT app, pick strong PINs, and change them often.
How investigators say the scheme worked
Investigators contend the operation relied on stolen EBT card data that was keyed into payment terminals at retailers outside Ohio. A heavy cluster of allegedly fraudulent purchases between midnight and 4 a.m. helped the activity blend into the noise for a time, authorities say. From there, officials allege, the benefits were converted into cash through large ATM withdrawals and wire transfers, with money moved out of reach before victims realized their accounts had been emptied.
Business ties and next steps
State business records cited in New York corporate records list Raed Subhi Abu Mohammad as a registered agent for a Brooklyn business tied to the case. He was taken into custody in New York on June 4 and is expected to be brought to Cleveland for arraignment in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, where a judge will set bail and map out a pretrial schedule.
Legal implications
The felony counts in the indictment carry the potential for significant prison time, along with the seizure of any proven criminal proceeds under Ohio law. Those charged are presumed innocent, and the case is set to move through arraignment, discovery and pretrial hearings in Cuyahoga County unless it is resolved earlier through a plea agreement.
How Ohioans can protect benefits
With EBT skimming schemes still surfacing across the country, ODJFS is urging SNAP recipients to take extra precautions. The agency recommends downloading the ConnectEBT app, using card-lock features, checking card readers for signs of tampering, covering the keypad when entering a PIN, and changing that PIN regularly to cut the risk of cloning. For detailed how-tos, the department offers step-by-step guides and a downloadable information packet for cardholders on its website.
