East Harlem Deli Owner Arrested Selling K2 for Food Stamps: Officials

EAST HARLEM, NY —An East Harlem Deli owner is facing federal charges for allegedly selling synthetic marijuana, specifically K2, in exchange for food stamps.

Yousif Mosleh, 26, has been charged with two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to violate the statutes and regulations governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"Yousif Mosleh is charged with peddling dangerous synthetic drugs in New York City neighborhoods and funding his drug sales by abusing a system created to assist the most vulnerable in our society. Thanks to the dedicated agents of the USDA and HSI, Mosleh can no longer profit from this illegal scheme," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement.

Mosleh, who owns two bodegas near Lexington Avenue and East 124th and 125th streets, sold K2 to a confidential informant in June 2015. The informant paid for the drugs, and other ineligible items, with food stamps, officials said.

One of Mosleh's delis was also raided by officials between July 23, 2015, and July 30, 2015. During the raid law enforcement seized more than 2,000 packets of K2, officials said.

Mosleh received a license to accept food stamps at one of his stores in 2007 and at the other store in 2014.

"SNAP was created to help low income families put food on their tables. Instead, Mosleh allegedly used SNAP to feed drug addicts a hazardous synthetic narcotic. K2 poses a public safety risk, especially for our teens and young adults. Mosleh’s arrest is a testament to HSI’s commitment to keep illegal drugs off our streets," said special agent in charge Angel M. Melendez in a statement.

The arrest was the result of a joint investigation between the United States Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Sheriff's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Houle of the office’s narcotics unit will handle the prosecution.