Americans of Jordanian Origin Accused of Fraud of $29.7 Million in America

Al-Taj News – American authorities arrested two American citizens of Jordanian origin, aged 38 and 45, and filed charges against them in a fraud case involving the federal food assistance program, estimated at about $29.7 million.

The local newspaper “Journal News” in the state of Ohio quoted American officials as saying that two other individuals suspected of involvement in the case recently fled to Jordan, without charges being brought against them up to the time of publishing the report, while the newspaper did not reveal their names, nationality, or the reasons for their departure to the Kingdom.

According to the report published by journalist Cornelius Frolik on November 9, 2026, the defendants, referred to by the initials (Y. J.) and (K. R.), were arrested during last October, and were charged before the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The first defendant resides in northwestern Indiana near the Illinois border, while the second resides in the greater Chicago area, while the prosecution demands keeping them in custody for fear of flight.

Network Suspected of Seizing Food Assistance

The indictment indicates that the defendants were part of a network suspected of fraudulently seizing food assistance worth $29.7 million through ten stores, including two stores they owned and operated in the city of Chicago, Illinois.

The case relates to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as “food stamps,” funded by federal funds, as authorities say the defendants and others fraudulently obtained account data of thousands of beneficiaries in Ohio and other states, and used it to collect payments during the period extending from February 2024 until April 2025.