Two New Jersey men have been arrested for allegedly conspiring to steal $1.4 million through a fraudulent food stamps scheme.
Authorities say 61-year-old Jacques Gary Doghram Apelian and 32-year-old Wael Rabee were arrested Friday and charged with conspiring to steal from the U.S.
The men were employees at a small grocery store and are charged in connection with a scheme in which they allegedly redeemed food stamps in exchange for cash. Prosecutors say they would enter fake dollar amounts for food stamps, give recipients a cut of the transaction and keep the rest.
Authorities uncovered the scheme using a cooperating witness, who made 15 purchases at the store from 2012 to 2014. During the transactions, the witness allegedly exchanged food stamp benefits for cash.
It's unclear if they have attorneys.
