PARMA, Ohio — Editor's note: The video in the player above is from a story published on Jan. 4, 2021.
A 52-count federal indictment has been handed down against a Parma man for allegedly scheming to defraud Ohio and steal state funds.
According to U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan, Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, 42, has been charged with various counts of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and theft of public money.
The indictment states that in November 2016, Abdulkadir began filing fraudulent applications to receive unemployment and income assistance while he was employed.
Abdulkadir was allegedly applying for unemployment, claiming his income to be "0," while working as the Chairman of the Board and a Resident Scholar at a religious center located in Parma.
Despite Abdulkadir's position being paid with health insurance and benefits, he claimed that he worked at the religious center in Parma in a volunteer capacity, filling out monthly Ohio Works First (OWF) programs forms with fictitious hours.
Officials say this went on for roughly two years until December 2018.
Abdulkadir allegedly received more than $15,000 in federal funds through the OWF program, in addition to an estimated $41,559 in Medicaid benefits, and approximately $23,599 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) money.
Abdulkadir is also believed to have forged signatures on his OWF forms.
Editor's note: The video in the player below is from a story published on June 1, 2021.