PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) — Two brothers who ran a halal market in Portland are being sentenced to prison time for a $1.4 million dollar food stamp scam.
Ali Rahtib Daham ran the store on Forest Avenue in Portland and is believed to be the mastermind in the food stamp benefits for cash scheme.
He was sentenced to three years in prison.
His brother, Abdulkareem Daham was given two years on conspiracy charges.
The brothers will have to pay $1.4 million in restitution.
The family emigrated to the U.S. in 2003 and Ali Daham became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2013.
Abdulkareem Daham is not a citizen and will likely be deported after his time in federal prison.
The brothers' lawyer. Peter Rodway says he expects to appeal.