A Chattanooga convenience store owner had not been authorized to accept EBT benefits since 2019. When investigators searched his business seven years later, they say they found benefit cards registered to other people.
The discovery came during an Aug. 14 raid at One Stop Shop on Grove Street involving Chattanooga Housing Authority investigators, police and federal agents, according to NewsChannel 9.
Investigators also searched a neighboring property operating as West Side Fish and Chicken and say they found an illegal gambling room containing multiple gambling machines and card readers. Between the two businesses, authorities reported recovering more than $4,500 in cash.
Owner Mohamed Saleh and four other people were arrested on a series of charges stemming primarily from drugs and gambling. The EBT evidence remains a separate part of the investigation, and the initial arrest report does not list an EBT-fraud charge against Saleh.
Investigators Found EBT Cards That Were Not His
Authorities arrived at One Stop Shop around 11:45 a.m. while executing a search warrant connected to a drug investigation. During searches of the store, neighboring restaurant and Saleh’s vehicle, investigators reported finding EBT cards that were not registered to him.
The arrest report also says Saleh acknowledged that his authorization to accept EBT benefits had expired in 2019. WDEF reported that evidence related to suspected EBT fraud would be forwarded for further investigation.
The Search Also Uncovered an Alleged Gambling Room
Investigators expanded the search into West Side Fish and Chicken, a neighboring property that police say contained a gambling room. Officers reported finding several illegal gambling machines and card readers there. According to the arrest report, Saleh acknowledged knowing that the machines constituted illegal lottery gambling.
Saleh was later booked on accusations including aggravated gambling promotion, possession of gambling devices and gambling, along with criminal conspiracy and several drug and firearm related counts.
Investigators reported finding $2,265.40 in cash during the searches involving Saleh and later said a total of $4,507.78 was recovered between the store and restaurant. Authorities also reported seizing drugs and firearms during the searches. Those discoveries form the basis for several of the criminal accusations filed after the raid.
Five People Were Arrested, but the Charges Are Not the Same
Darrien Boseman, Chartavius Kellogg, Latrice Dowdy and Taion Jackson were present at the two properties when investigators searched them. Police identified Kellogg and Dowdy as Saleh’s employees.
All four were taken to the Hamilton County Jail on accusations involving drugs for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of drugs near a drug-free school zone. Kellogg and Dowdy were also charged with criminal conspiracy over allegations that they worked with Saleh to buy and sell drugs.
Saleh faces a broader list of accusations: four counts involving drugs for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of drugs in a drug-free school zone, possession of a firearm during a felony, possession of a firearm with intent to go armed, aggravated gambling promotion, possession of gambling devices, gambling and criminal conspiracy.
What to Do if Someone Else Has or Uses Your EBT Card
EBT cards provide access to benefits that can be difficult to recover once stolen, making unexplained transactions or a missing card worth addressing immediately. The Tennessee Department of Human Services advises customers who believe an EBT card has been lost, stolen or compromised to call EBT Customer Service at 1-888-997-9444 so the card can be deactivated and replaced.
Customers who discover unexplained benefit use can also report the incident through their One DHS account and file a police report. Tennessee also recommends regularly checking EBT balances and transaction activity, changing the card PIN frequently and never sharing the PIN, card number or other account information.
The state’s ebtEDGE tools allow customers to freeze a card when it is not being used, block out-of-state transactions and request a replacement for a compromised card. Suspected SNAP or other Tennessee benefit fraud can be reported to the Department of Human Services Fraud Hotline at 1-800-241-2629.