Teaneck Man Admits Stealing $750K In Food Stamp Scheme

TEANECK, NJ — A township man admitted stealing more than $750,000 from the U.S. Government by exchanging government benefits for cash, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Jamil Bader, 60, pleaded guilty to defrauding the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Newark federal court before U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti.

Bader controlled a small grocery store in Newark from 2013 to 2016. The store was in someone else's name because Bader had been banned for participating in the SNAP program because he exchanged SNAP benefits from customers in exchange for cash and kept some proceeds for himself, Carpenito said.

The scheme caused the government to lose more than $754,000, Carpenito said.

Bader also admitted getting a foreign passport and leaving the United States to avoid being prosecuted.

Bader faces a possible 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced Sept. 7.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com