A Brooklyn convenience-store operator is accused of using stolen Ohio EBT card numbers to run nearly 3,000 fraudulent SNAP transactions, often in the middle of the night, draining more than $643,000 in food benefits from low-income Ohioans.
Raed Subhi Abu Mohammad, 52, of Brooklyn, New York, is facing charges in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, according to News 5 Cleveland. The Ohio Investigative Unit and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office said Mohammad operated Hot Spot Convenience 2 and is accused of stealing benefits from Ohio SNAP recipients through fraudulent EBT transactions.
Investigators say stolen Ohio card numbers were allegedly processed through a New York retailer using credentials that belonged to a legitimate SNAP-authorized business.
Mohammad and Hot Spot Convenience 2 remain accused, not convicted. Court records cited by News 5 did not list an attorney for either defendant.
Officials Say The Store Ran 2,823 Fraudulent Transactions
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Agents allege Mohammad fraudulently obtained the federal Food and Nutrition Service permit number of a legitimate retailer authorized to process SNAP payments. Using that account, Hot Spot Convenience 2 allegedly processed 2,823 fraudulent transactions involving stolen Ohio EBT card numbers between March 1, 2024, and Jan. 14, 2025, according to the Ohio Investigative Unit.
The losses topped $643,000 statewide, including more than $260,000 from Cuyahoga County victims. News 5 Cleveland reported that many of the fraudulent transactions happened between midnight and 4 a.m., sometimes in as many as 12 consecutive transactions on the same stolen EBT account to drain the balance.
Bob Boldin, agent in charge of the Ohio Investigative Unit’s Cleveland office, told News 5 that the case started with someone allegedly stealing the permit number of a legitimate New York retailer that had been in business for years with no history of fraud.
December Alone Was Nearly $240,000, Investigators Say
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The December 2024 figure shows how quickly stolen benefits can move once card data is compromised. Investigators said Mohammad was responsible for almost $240,000 in losses to Ohio SNAP recipients in that month alone, according to News 5 Cleveland.
Ohio officials said the proceeds were quickly liquidated through large cash withdrawals and wire transfers. Greg Croft, senior enforcement commander for the Ohio Investigative Unit, said the agency would pursue suspects “regardless of where these bad actors operate from.”
The Ohio Investigative Unit said the investigation included assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, Food and Nutrition Service Office of Retailer Operations and Compliance, and the U.S. Secret Service.
The Case Started With Skimmed EBT Card Data
Ohio officials said SNAP theft often starts with skimmers or other devices that capture EBT card numbers and PINs at checkout terminals. Criminals can then use the stolen information to run transactions in another state, sometimes shortly after monthly benefits hit the card.
That pattern is especially damaging for recipients because SNAP benefits are meant for food purchases. When an account is drained, the loss can hit immediately, and News 5 reported that the federal government stopped reimbursing victims for stolen benefits in late 2024.
Matt Damschroder, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, said criminals from other states and online continue to target Ohioans who rely on SNAP to feed their families.
Mohammad Was Arrested In New York
A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted Mohammad and Hot Spot Convenience 2 in February, according to News 5 Cleveland. Investigators waited to announce the case until Mohammad was in custody.
The New York City Police Department arrested Mohammad on June 4. Officials said he will be extradited to Ohio for arraignment.
The charges include illegal use of SNAP benefits, telecommunications fraud, aggravated theft, and money laundering.
Ohio Has Added New Card Locks
News 5 reported that Ohio EBT cards, like many cards across the country, rely on magnetic stripes rather than the security chips used on most debit and credit cards. Ohio lawmakers recently approved bills to start adding chips to EBT cards, though the transition would be gradual if signed into law.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services also changed the default setting on Ohio EBT cards in May so they are locked for online and out-of-state purchases. Cardholders must unlock the cards if they want to shop online or outside Ohio.
SNAP recipients in Ohio can lock cards when they are not shopping through the ConnectEBT app, at ConnectEBT.com, or by calling 1-866-386-3071. The state also advises cardholders to choose hard-to-guess PINs, change PINs often, and monitor their accounts for unauthorized transactions.
From December to mid-May, the department’s fraud analytics team flagged nearly 56,000 suspicious out-of-state transactions on 12,900 Ohio EBT accounts, with the transactions totaling more than $6.3 million, according to News 5.