Two Fort Pierce clerks accused of accepting food stamp cards for cigarettes

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Two men were arrested Thursday following accusations they took food stamp cards as payment for cigarettes that were sold at inflated prices, according to records released Friday.

Alaa Mohammad Shreiteh, 24, and 33-year-old Iyad M. Shreiteh each were arrested on a misdemeanor food stamp fraud charge following a probe into accusations that a business identified as Friendly Meats in Fort Pierce was accepting food stamp cards in exchange for tobacco and alcohol. The men are listed as being store clerks.

The case at the store in the 1700 block of North 17th Street in Fort Pierce involved agents from the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. Selling alcohol and/or tobacco products to those using food stamp cards is against state rules.

Officials in May, September and October were able to buy Newport brand cigarettes at the store from both men using a food stamp card. Each man is accused of selling cigarettes on one occasion in each of the three months.

In at least some of the cases, one pack of cigarettes was sold for about $15, which is significantly more than a pack of cigarettes generally costs when purchased legitimately.

Alaa Shreiteh and Iyad M. Shreiteh each have a listed address in the 100 block of Dorchester Street in Port St. Lucie.