KC father and son charged with food stamp fraud, selling synthetic marijuana
The father and son operators of two Independence businesses have been charged with selling synthetic marijuana and food stamp fraud.
Haris Nawaz, 23, and Haq Nawaz Choudhry, 51, both of Kansas City, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly selling the drug known as K2 and accepting food stamps in payment for the drugs.
Federal prosecutors said that they operated a convenience store and liquor store next door to each other in the 9000 block of East U.S. 40.
The indictment says Nawaz and Choudhry conspired to defraud the U.S. Department of Agriculture by accepting EBT cards in exchange for synthetic marijuana. The cards are used by people who qualify for food stamp benefits.
Nawaz and Choudhry are also accused of allowing customers to use multiple EBT cards belonging to other people to obtain K2.
Both men were in custody Tuesday pending a hearing Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City.
Tony Rizzo: 816-234-4435, @trizzkc
This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 12:57 PM with the headline "KC father and son charged with food stamp fraud, selling synthetic marijuana."