CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced Thursday several enforcement actions as part of a nationwide effort led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) targeting suspected fraudulent activity in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
SNAP is a federal benefits program funded by the USDA and administered by the State of Ohio. The Northern District of Ohio (NDOH) was a key participant in this surge effort.
Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 21, 2026, the Fraud Division and 13 U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country participated in the Department’s first National USDA Benefits and Program Fraud Enforcement Surge.
This coordinated effort resulted in actions against more than 40 defendants whose alleged or proven schemes caused nearly $45 million in intended losses to the federal government. Nearly $42 million of that amount involved fraud against SNAP benefits, which provide monthly food assistance to low-income individuals and families.
“You cannot exchange food program benefits for cash, illegal drugs, or anything else – it is a violation of federal law,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “My office will aggressively protect the integrity of taxpayer-funded programs to assist those truly in need.
“During some of these investigations, we also found evidence of federal housing or drug trafficking violations. Together with our investigative partners, we will find and prosecute those who attempt to manipulate federal programs for their own benefit.”
Authorities noted the benefits programs were established for those most in need, and stealing from them hurts the most vulnerable in the population.
“These benefits are a critical lifeline for eligible families, not a source of profit for those willing to exploit the program,” said Lewis Porcella, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Cleveland Field Office.
“Secret Service investigators will work relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to uncover fraud and hold accountable anyone who steals resources intended to help vulnerable Americans put food on the table.”
Northern District of Ohio notable cases
• United States v. Sqar Qahtan, Mohsin Mohsin, Baligh Naji, Mariah Hatcher, Ahmed Al Hamami, and Almotawakil Nassr (Complaints) – approximately $1 million in intended loss.
On Oct. 6, 2026, Sqar Qahtan, 31, Baligh Naji, 34, Ahmed Al Hamami, 36, all citizens of Yemen residing in Euclid, along with Mohsin Mohsin, 28, of Syracuse, New York; Mariah Hatcher, 30, of Euclid, and Almotawakil Nassr, 29, of Detroit, were charged in criminal complaints with SNAP Benefits Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
SNAP benefits are more commonly known as “food stamps.”
For approximately two years, the defendants allegedly operated a conspiracy to exchange Ohio SNAP benefit cards for cash, marijuana, and other non-SNAP items while employed at a gas station convenience store in Euclid.
Identified members of the conspiracy obtained at least $64,000 in SNAP benefits, with the members of the conspiracy likely to have engaged in at least approximately $1 million in fraud. If convicted, each defendant faces per count: SNAP Benefits Fraud – five years in prison; Wire Fraud – 20 years in prison; and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud – 20 years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service-Money Laundering Task Force, Ohio Investigative Unit, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Euclid Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Erica Barnhill leads the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
• United States v. Glenda K. Jordan (Indictment) – approximately $162,580 in intended loss.
On Sept. 9, 2026, Glenda K. Jordan, 63, of Painesville, Ohio, was charged with three counts of Bank Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Theft of Government Property, and Supplemental Security Income Fraud-Knowing Concealment. For more than a decade, Jordan allegedly engaged in a scheme to mislead government agencies to fraudulently obtain SNAP benefits, HUD-funded housing benefits, and Supplemental Security Income benefits.
On numerous official government documents, she lied about — and concealed — her marriage, her husband’s income, and her true residence. In one instance, Jordan concealed her scheme by reporting her sister-in-law as her ‘live-in aide’ when in fact, her sister-in-law used Jordan’s subsidized unit as her primary home. Meanwhile, Jordan resided at a different location with her husband.
If convicted, she faces prison sentences of up to 30 years per Bank Fraud count; 30 years for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud; 10 years for Theft of Government Property; and five years for Supplemental Security Income Fraud-Knowing Concealment.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of the Inspector General.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason White is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
• United States v. Myron Cage and Raymond Stevens (Complaints) – approximately $4,070 in intended loss.
On Sept. 30, 2026, Myron Cage, 43, of Garfield Heights, and Dwayne Stevens, 34, of Mayfield Heights, were charged with SNAP Benefits Fraud as part of a related drug trafficking operation.
Between February and August 2022, Cage and Stevens allegedly obtained SNAP benefits that they received as payment, or partial payment, for crack cocaine at a corner store in Cleveland that Cage owned and operated.
During search warrants executed at their residences, agents also seized more than 500 grams of packaged cocaine.
If convicted, they each face up to five years in prison for SNAP Benefits Fraud offenses, and up to 40 years in prison on related drug charges.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of the Inspector General, the DEA, and the FBI
Assistant United States Attorneys Robert F. Corts, Marc D. Bullard, and Samuel V. Lioi are leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
For a list of similar enforcement actions across the country, please visit
justice.gov/opa/pr/dojs-fraud-division-department-agriculture-and-usda-oig-uncover-nearly-42m-snap-benefit.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.
The Department’s work supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud — a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance — to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.