PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) - A case involving massive welfare fraud that may have cost Maine taxpayers millions of dollars is officially closed.
The second of two brothers from Iraq was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. in federal court today, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
Abdulkareem Daham could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 dollar fine.
Federal authorities say he was part of a welfare fraud scheme run by his brother out of the Ahram Halal Market in Portland from 2011 to 2016.
In that scheme, they say the brothers gave cash to customers through transactions using their SNAP and WIC benefits.
SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children. These programs are designed to help low-income Mainers.
Daham's older brother Ali Ratib Daham pleaded guilty on multiple counts of conspiracy and money laundering on November 28, 2017.
Both brothers await sentencing.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General, the IRS, and Maine DHHS.
The Ahram Halal Market is under new management.