CHICOPEE, MA — A Westfield man was arrested following a multi-week investigation into alleged SNAP benefit fraud at a local smoke shop.
Mohamed Yahiya, 47, was taken into custody March 27 after investigators executed a search warrant at Adham’s Smoke Shop.
An investigator with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Special Investigations Unit for Retailer Operations and Compliance contacted the Chicopee Police Detective Bureau on March 9 regarding an ongoing fraud investigation.
The investigation focused on Yahiya, an employee at the smoke shop, who allegedly directed individuals to use their SNAP/EBT benefits to purchase large quantities of Red Bull from Sam’s Club.
Yahiya would then buy the products back from them at a significantly reduced cash price, according to police.
Over several weeks, an undercover investigator purchased $1,731.34 worth of Red Bull and was paid $1,046 in cash.
During one interaction, Yahiya offered a $50 referral fee for bringing in others willing to participate, police said.
He also stated that his brother owned two stores and planned to distribute the products between them.
On March 18, the investigator returned and completed another transaction, during which food items and cigarettes were purchased using an EBT card.
The cigarettes were sold at a discounted rate and were not properly stamped with Massachusetts tax markings.
When the search warrant was executed, investigators recovered marked cases of Red Bull, as well as cigarettes bearing tax stamps from South Carolina and Virginia.
A box containing single rolled marijuana cigarettes was found behind the counter.
Yahiya was charged with three counts of food stamp trafficking over $250, one count of food stamp trafficking under $250, three counts of accepting transitional assistance funds for tobacco, possession of unstamped cigarettes, flavored tobacco sales and possession with intent to distribute a Class D drug.
