Nael Jabbar, who owned The Hot Spot, defrauded the state and federal government out of more than $1.6 million.
A Franklin man who ran a long‑standing neighborhood corner store is now accused of exploiting the safety‑net meant to feed struggling families, taking roughly $1.6 million in SNAP benefits between 2021 and 2024 by swapping EBT funds for cash and charging the government for the full amounts. WISN-TV reports that Nael Jabbar has agreed to plead guilty.
According to a federal complaint, Jabbar would give customers to his store, The Hot Spot, cash in exchange for credits on their Quest EBT cards. Prosecutors alleged that this cash amount would be for far less than the amount on the cards, but Jabbar would charge the state and federal government the full amount.
Jabbar allegedly used these ill-gotten funds to pay off loans and credit cards, go on shopping sprees at Nordstrom and Gucci, and even join a Vacation Club.
He faces a maximum sentence of more than 20 years in prison.
