Express Lane Market Manager Sentenced in Food Stamp Scheme

ST LOUIS, MO — Express Lane manager Ayman Barghouty, 55, of Maryland Heights has been sentenced to 13 months in prison for conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud. He pleaded guilty in August.

More properly known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), stamps are no longer used at all. Rather, Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards —which resemble ordinary debit or credit cards — are used by beneficiaries to purchase eligible food items at authorized retailers. Stores are not permitted to accept SNAP benefits toward the purchase of ineligible items, such as alcohol, tobacco or household goods.

The $70 billion SNAP program is designed to meet the basic food needs of low-income Americans. Forty-four percent of Americans who receive nutrition benefits work at least part time, and more than two-thirds are elderly, children or disabled, according to the government. Officials say fraud in the program is very low, but troubling when it does occur.

In 2012, Express Lane — located at the corner of Gustine Ave. and Keokuk St., south of Amberg Park — was banned from accepting SNAP benefits by the United States Department of Agriculture, which manages the program. Prosecutors said Barghouty, along with employees Timothy Zollner and Steven Holman, agreed to an illegal workaround where they would purchase food with EBT cards at nearby stores and sell that food at Express Lane. According to court documents, the trio fraudulently purchased and resold more than $145,000 worth of food between 2010 and 2015.

Zollner pleaded guilty last month and was sentenced to 5 years probation. Holman will be sentenced next month, prosecutors said.

Image via Shutterstock