WICHITA — A Wichita grocery store owner admitted to conspiracy, wire fraud and food stamp fraud Monday in federal court. Ahmed Ajami al-Maleki, owner of Kansas Food Market, was accused of conspiring to trade cash for his customers’ food stamps at a profit, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. He’s also accused of sharing the proceeds with a man who worked homeless shelters to find people willing to sell their government benefits. Grissom said al-Maleki made $130,000 in some 750 transactions involving at least 100 food stamp recipients. Thirteen people involved in two small Wichita groceries have been indicted in a scheme that defrauded the government out of more than $580,000. Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services secretary Rob Siedlecki says the indictments are part of an on-going campaign against food stamp fraud.
Tuesday, Aug. 30, 4 p.m.
