Convenience store owner convicted
A federal jury has convicted the owner of five Chicago-area convenience stores in connection with a scheme to defraud a low-income food program.
Prosecutors say 36-year-old Hassan Abdellatif of Chicago schemed with eight other store owners or workers to fraudulently redeem $6.5 million in checks from the Women, Infants, and Children program, which is funded by U.S. taxpayers.
Abdellatif was found guilty of wire fraud, fraudulently obtaining government benefits, and willfully failing to file corporate tax returns. Sentencing is set for Aug. 26.
Teacher of the year announced
A bilingual educator from East and West Leyden Community High School is the Illinois State Board of Education’s teacher of the year.
Victor Gomez teaches bilingual chemistry at the schools in the Chicago suburbs of Franklin Park and Northlake. ISBE honored 14 members of the Teacher of the Year Cohort and more than 500 people statewide for their contributions to education.
Lottery winners sang $349M
The Illinois Lottery’s newest Mega Millions Jackpot winners have claimed their prize.
The $349 million winning ticket was purchased at Casey’s General Store in the DeKalb County town of Cortland. The winners, who remained anonymous other than calling themselves “Blessed,” claimed the prize Wednesday. The winners said they planned to use the money to do good.
For selling the winning ticket, the store received a $500,000 bonus.
