32 Valley residents indicted in food stamp fraud case

YOUNGSTOWN

Thirty-two area residents, most of Youngstown, have been indicted in a Youngstown-based $2 million food stamp fraud conspiracy, including George Rafidi of Lordstown, whom federal authorities consider the leader.

Rafidi is serving a 94-month sentence in federal prison for pointing a .357-caliber revolver during a confrontation on Oct. 8, 2014, with Lordstown police and U.S. marshals who were executing a warrant to search his residence in connection with the food stamp investigation by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

Count 1 of the indictment alleges that beginning in or around June 2010 and continuing to October 2014 the persons indicted conspired to defraud the USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, specifically the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.

Participants in the alleged conspiracy are accused of defrauding SNAP by converting illegally obtained SNAP benefits into money that the defendants, their coconspirators, and designees could use for any purpose and to enrich the defendants, said Acting U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon.

Read more about the case and others involved in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.