Detroit Store Owner Pleads Guilty to $2M Food Fraud
DETROIT (AP) - A Detroit store owner has pleaded guilty to stealing $2 million from a government food program for mothers and children.
Haidar Aoun admits that he paid cash to people in exchange for more lucrative swipes of their electronic debit-style cards. He was subsequently paid by the government.
Aoun pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit fraud and likely faces 41 months to 51 months in federal prison. His plea agreement says the fraud lasted eight years at Lonyo Market in Detroit.
The agreement says Aoun owes the government nearly $2.3 million, which includes restitution for food stamp fraud, Medicaid fraud and Pell grant fraud.
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