Convenience store owner and son-in-law charged in welfare fraud scheme

  
PRESS RELEASE

 Chaudhry

During the months of November and December 2018, State Police at Middletown conducted a welfare fraud investigation involving the use of Electronic Benefit Cards (EBT cards) at the Sam’s Mart convenience store located at 90 Academy Ave in the city of Middletown.  The investigation revealed that the owner of the business, Ahsan Chaudhry, age 59 of Middletown, NY allowed holders of EBT cards to trade them for cash, often a fraction of the balances on the cards.  Those cards were then used by Chaudhry and his son-in-law Ammar Ahmad, age 24, also of Middletown to purchase inventory for the store at various retailers in the Middletown area.  A search warrant was executed at the store on the afternoon of December 5, 2018.

Chaudhry and Ahmad were arrested on December 5th, 2018.  Chaudhry was charged with Criminal Use of a Benefit Card 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of a Benefit Card 2nd Degree, and Possession of Counterfeit Tax Stamps, all felonies.  He was additionally charged with the misdemeanors of Misuse of Food Stamps, Welfare Fraud 5th Degree, and Possession of or Sale of Unstamped Cigarettes.  Ahmad was charged with Criminal Possession of a Benefit Card 2nd Degree and Welfare Fraud 5th Degree.  Both were arraigned in the City of Middletown Court. Chaudhry was released on his own recognizance.  Ahmad was remanded to the Orange County Jail in lieu of $1000 cash or $2000 bond.  State Police were assisted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the City of Middletown PD, NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, New York State Office of Temporary Disability Assistance, and the Orange County Department of Social Services.