Alabama AG Announces 2nd Arrest For Welfare Fraud At Birmingham Store

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September 27, 2007 -- (MONTGOMERY) — Alabama Attorney General Troy King today announced a second arrest in a case involving welfare fraud at a Birmingham grocery store. Faramarz Mohammadi-pour, 48, of Hoover, was arrested on September 21. Mohammadi-pour, also known as Faramarz Mohammadipour, is an employee of Family Supermarket at 513 23rd Street North in Birmingham. The store's owner—Abolghassem Mohammadipour, also known as Abolghassem Mohammadi Pour, 59, also of Hoover—was arrested on July 24 on related charges.

Specifically, the store employee Faramarz Mohammadi-pour was indicted* by a Jefferson County grand jury on August 31 for two counts of fraudulent use of a credit or debit card—on June 13 and August 7 of 2006—by allowing individuals to use electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to obtain items such as beer, cigarettes, and cash, with the knowledge that such uses were unauthorized by the State Department of Human Resources or the U.S. Department of Agriculture which are the issuers of EBT cards.

The store's owner, Abolghassem Mohammadipour, was indicted* by a Jefferson County grand jury on July 13 on a total of nine counts: one count of second-degree theft of $667.38 on July 21, 2006, from the State Department of Human Resources (DHR), though electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which are used for food stamp benefits; one count of third-degree theft of $320.64 on August 30, 2006, from DHR through EBT cards; and seven counts of fraudulent use of a credit or debit card (on dates between June and August of 2006), by allowing individuals to use EBT cards to obtain items such as beer, cigarettes, and cash, with the knowledge that such uses were unauthorized by the State Department of Human Resources or the U.S. Department of Agriculture which are the issuers of EBT cards.

"When people are accused of stealing welfare funds, the charge is that they have committed a crime against the State, the taxpaying public, and those who are truly deserving of welfare benefits," said Attorney General King. "I take seriously my responsibility as Attorney General to protect public funds on behalf of the people of Alabama and pledge to investigate allegations and prosecute those who are charged with breaking the law by abusing the welfare system."

The charges resulted from a joint federal-state investigation by the Attorney General's Office and the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service. No further information about the investigation or about Mohammadipour's alleged crimes other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.

If convicted, the store employee Faramarz Mohammadi-pour faces a maximum penalty of one to ten years imprisonment for each count charging fraudulent use of a credit or debit card, which is a class C felony. The store owner Abolghassem Mohammadipour faces a maximum penalty of one to ten years for the charge of second-degree theft, a class C felony; up to one year for the charge of third-degree theft, a class A misdemeanor; and one to ten years imprisonment for each count charging fraudulent use of a credit or debit card, which is a class C felony.

*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: Alabama Attorney General