What to Know
- A Philly restaurant owner who threw lavish prom send-offs in her neighborhood was sentenced for defrauding the government.
- Saudia Shuler, 45, was sentenced to 3 years probation and 6 months of home confinement.
- Shuler admitted to collecting Social Security disability payments while failing to report income that would have made her ineligible.
A North Philadelphia restaurateur was sentenced to house arrest but avoided jail time for defrauding the government out of tens of thousands of dollars in order to fund elaborate prom send-offs that included camels and a panther.
Saudia Shuler, 45, was sentenced to three years probation with six months home confinement, 100 hours of community service, a $300 special assessment and $36,785.67 restitution.
“Saudia Shuler is not a folk hero or neighborhood champion – she is an admitted thief who stole money from taxpayers in order to fund elaborate parties and enhance her own reputation,” U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said. “Social security funds are meant to help people survive through challenging times, not to finance extravagancies like helicopter rides, exotic animal rentals or casino gambling binges."
Shuler admitted to collecting Social Security disability payments for years while failing to report income that would have made her ineligible. Prosecutors said Shuler applied for benefits, described herself as disabled and unable to work, but continued working and operated a restaurant, costing the government more than $36,000.
"Shame on her for taking money out of the pockets of people who actually depend on social security just to get by: the elderly, disabled and other vulnerable people – some of whom live in Shuler’s North Philadelphia neighborhood," McSwain said. "She should be ashamed of herself and deserves to be held accountable for her crimes.”
In the spring of 2017, Shuler spent $25,000 on a camel, three tons of sand and exotic cars for a massive event in her neighborhood celebrating her son’s prom.
It was dubbed "Dubai to Philly."
Months later, at Christmastime, Shuler held another big party in her neighborhood. It featured hundreds of gifts and two reindeer.
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The event was held at Country Cookin', the restaurant Shuler owns. She put her role as a business owner aside for the night and became "Saudia Claus," handing out hundreds of gifts to excited children.
Last year, Shuler threw a “Black Panther”-themed prom send-off with an actual panther for neighborhood kids.
Shuler told NBC10 that she used the events to celebrate her good fortunes after dealing with tragedies, including the murder of her son's father and multiple health scares over the past decade.
“I had a stroke. I had seizures. I had cancer,” she said. “All within the last three years.”
At the time, Shuler said she’d received donations from all over the country to help pay for the outsize events.
Defense attorney Tariq El-Shabazz cited his client’s charitable work and said she had a stroke, was in rehab and couldn’t do anything for two-plus years.
