⚠ FRAUD ALERT
🚨 BOMBSHELL: manhattanmarketfnc.com openly advertises "EBT ACCEPTED HERE" for hot fried chicken & fish — their own website proves the fraud  |  ⚡ MICHIGAN LAW MCL 750.300a — Unlawful SNAP use can result in up to 10 YEARS in prison and $250,000 in fines  |  🔴 Federal Law 7 U.S.C. §2024 — SNAP trafficking carries up to 20 years in federal prison  |  📞 USDA OIG Fraud Hotline: 1-800-424-9121 — Report SNAP fraud now  |  🚨 SNAP benefits CANNOT be used to purchase hot food, fried chicken, or prepared meals at restaurants  |  📍 Location 1: 13224 Woodward Ave, Highland Park, MI 48203 — "EBT ACCEPTED HERE"  |  📍 Location 2: 27231 W Seven Mile Rd, Redford, MI 48240 — "EBT COMING SOON"  |  📋 Michigan MDHHS Fraud Hotline: 1-888-678-8914  | 
🔴 Investigative Report Michigan EBT Fraud Published: March 2025  |  Highland Park & Dearborn, Michigan

SNAP / EBT FRAUD How a Fried Chicken Chain Allegedly Stole Millions from Michigan Taxpayers

A public interest investigation into alleged widespread benefits fraud at Manhattan Fish & Chicken Market — operating multiple locations across Detroit, Highland Park, and Dearborn, Michigan — where EBT/SNAP cards are allegedly accepted for hot fried food items in direct violation of federal and state law.

 Report This Fraud  Know the Law  Full Investigation
$7.7M Michigan SNAP Fraud 2025 (Reported)
20 Yrs Max Federal Prison for SNAP Trafficking
$250K Max Fine Under Michigan MCL 750.300a
100% Illegal — Hot Food on EBT (All 50 States)
1.4M+ Michigan SNAP Recipients at Risk
🔍 The Investigation

🏪 Business Under Investigation: Manhattan Fish & Chicken Market

EBT Authorized Retailer
Primary Location 13224 Woodward Ave, Highland Park, MI 48203
Restaurant Website manhattanmarketfnc.com
Phone +1 (313) 866-4000
Business Type Seafood & Chicken Fast Food Restaurant (Hot Food Only)
Known Alleged Operators Youssef Ahmed Baraghith, Moustafa Mohamed A. Baraghith & Ahmed Mohamed Baraghith
📍 Location 1 — Highland Park 13224 Woodward Ave, Highland Park, MI 48203  |  (313) 866-4000
📍 Location 2 — Redford 27231 W Seven Mile Rd, Redford, MI 48240  |  (313) 766-5770
DoorDash — Location 1 View on DoorDash
DoorDash — Location 2 View on DoorDash
🚨
⚠ CRITICAL EVIDENCE — DIRECT ADMISSION FROM THEIR OWN WEBSITE

Their Official Website manhattanmarketfnc.com Openly Advertises:
"EBT ACCEPTED HERE"

On their own public-facing homepage carousel — displayed across both slide banners — the restaurant openly advertises "EBT ACCEPTED HERE" for their hot fried food restaurant in Highland Park, and "EBT COMING SOON" for their Redford location. This is not an allegation — this is their own admission, published on their own website, to the general public.

The website also confirms they operate two separate locations — Highland Park and Redford — both under the same ownership, both advertising EBT acceptance. The Redford location advertising "EBT COMING SOON" demonstrates this is an intentional, expanding business practice, not an isolated cashier mistake.

Location 1 — Highland Park
"EBT ACCEPTED HERE"
Published on manhattanmarketfnc.com homepage
Location 2 — Redford
"EBT COMING SOON"
Published on manhattanmarketfnc.com homepage
🔗 Source: www.manhattanmarketfnc.com — Live website, verified March 2025. Archive this page immediately as legal evidence.
📍 Location 1 — Highland Park, MI
📍 Location 2 — Redford, MI (EBT Coming Soon)
📍 13224 Woodward Ave, Highland Park, MI 48203  |  (313) 866-4000  |  "EBT ACCEPTED HERE" — their own website
📍 27231 W Seven Mile Rd, Redford, MI 48240  |  (313) 766-5770  |  "EBT COMING SOON" — their own website

📋 Summary of Allegations

The following allegations have been brought forward by community members and witnesses who visited the establishment. These are alleged acts under investigation. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Core Allegations — Including Self-Incriminating Website Evidence

  • 🚨 CONFIRMED ON THEIR OWN WEBSITE: manhattanmarketfnc.com publicly advertises "EBT ACCEPTED HERE" for their Highland Park hot food restaurant location — a direct public admission of illegal SNAP acceptance. The Redford location advertises "EBT COMING SOON", proving intentional expansion of the scheme.
  • The website confirms the business sells exclusively hot prepared food — fried chicken, fried fish (catfish, perch, tilapia, whiting), hot shrimp, chicken tenders, hot wings — with 35+ hot food combos and a full hot food menu. Every single item is a hot prepared food ineligible for SNAP purchase under federal law.
  • Despite operating a 100% hot food restaurant, the business maintains a SNAP/EBT authorization and openly advertises EBT acceptance, solicited customers verbally at the counter, and allegedly rung up hot food transactions as SNAP-eligible items in the point-of-sale system.
  • The restaurant allegedly installed a small "market" display (featuring items such as bread, milk, and other EBT-eligible goods) as a front to maintain SNAP retailer authorization, while the primary business is a hot-food restaurant.
  • This scheme has now been confirmed to operate across two known locations — Highland Park (EBT accepted) and Redford (EBT coming soon) — throughout the greater Detroit / Redford metro area.
  • The alleged proceeds of this fraud have reportedly enabled the operators to accumulate substantial personal assets including fully paid-off real estate and other wealth.
  • Eyewitness accounts report an armed individual — allegedly the owner's son — positioned behind bullet-proof glass at the location, suggesting awareness of risk and the high-value nature of the alleged operation.
  • The alleged scheme defrauds not only the U.S. federal government and Michigan taxpayers but also exploits vulnerable SNAP recipients by encouraging them to use their food benefits on ineligible items.
🏪

Fake Market Front

A small market section was allegedly installed inside the fried chicken restaurant to create the appearance of SNAP-eligible grocery sales, while the actual transactions involved hot prepared food — an ineligible SNAP purchase.

💳

EBT for Hot Food

Staff allegedly openly invited customers to pay for hot fried chicken and catfish using EBT cards. Hot food sold at restaurants is explicitly prohibited under all SNAP regulations in every U.S. state.

🧾

Fraudulent Invoicing

Fried chicken and hot fish orders were allegedly rung up in the point-of-sale system as staple grocery items to disguise the true nature of the transaction and deceive SNAP oversight systems.

🏘️

Multiple Locations

The alleged scheme was not limited to one address. Multiple locations across Detroit, Highland Park, and Dearborn reportedly operated under the same methodology, multiplying the scale of the alleged fraud.

📅 How the Alleged Fraud Was Discovered

Step 1 — Customer Visit

Community members visited the Manhattan Fish & Chicken Market location to order food. Upon completing their order at the counter, the cashier allegedly proactively asked if they wished to pay with their EBT card for the hot fried food items.

Step 2 — Transaction Observed

The EBT card was allegedly accepted for hot fried chicken and fish — items that are explicitly ineligible for SNAP purchase under federal law. The transaction appeared to be processed under a different product code to avoid system flags.

Step 3 — Security Observation

Visitors observed an individual who appeared to be the owner's son positioned behind bullet-proof glass, allegedly carrying an AR-15 style firearm. The level of security is atypical for a standard fast food operation and is consistent with protecting a high-value fraudulent revenue stream.

Step 4 — Fake Market Discovered

Upon examination of the establishment, a small arrangement of standard grocery items (bread, milk, etc.) was found — allegedly set up specifically to maintain SNAP retailer authorization under the guise of operating a grocery store, while the primary sales are hot prepared food.

Step 5 — Pattern Identified

Investigators determined this was not an isolated incident but an ongoing multi-location scheme that has allegedly generated millions of dollars in fraudulent SNAP redemptions over several years, funding personal real estate and assets.

Step 6 — Public Report Filed

Community members have submitted allegations to the USDA Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and are now bringing this case to public attention to accelerate investigation and prosecution.

🌐 Evidence From Their Own Website — manhattanmarketfnc.com

The following evidence is sourced directly from the operators' own publicly accessible website at www.manhattanmarketfnc.com. This is not hearsay — this is self-incrimination. Archive this page at web.archive.org immediately to preserve it as legal evidence.

📍 Location 1 — Highland Park Homepage Banner
"EBT
ACCEPTED
HERE"
13224 Woodward Ave, Highland Park, MI 48203
(313) 866-4000
Published on their live website carousel — both slides
📍 Location 2 — Redford Homepage Banner
"EBT
COMING
SOON"
27231 W Seven Mile Rd, Redford, MI 48240
(313) 766-5770
Expanding the scheme to a second location — by design

Why This Website Evidence Is Legally Explosive

  • No ambiguity: "EBT ACCEPTED HERE" on a hot food restaurant website is not a cashier error or a misunderstanding. It is a written, published, public declaration that the business is accepting EBT for its menu of exclusively hot prepared foods.
  • Proves knowing intent: Under 7 U.S.C. § 2024 and MCL § 750.300a, criminal charges require proof that the fraud was knowing and intentional. Publishing "EBT ACCEPTED HERE" on a website — on not one but both slides of a homepage carousel — is powerful proof of intentional, premeditated SNAP fraud.
  • "EBT COMING SOON" at Redford proves planned expansion: The Redford location advertising "EBT COMING SOON" proves this is not an accident at one store — it is an intentional business strategy being deliberately scaled to additional locations. This supports conspiracy charges.
  • 100% hot food menu: The website's full menu — fried chicken, catfish, perch, tilapia, whiting, shrimp, chicken tenders, wings, hot combos, hot sides — contains not a single SNAP-eligible cold grocery staple as a primary offering. A token "bread — $0.50 a bag / $2.00 a loaf" listing in the extras section does not convert a fried food restaurant into a SNAP-eligible grocery store.
  • DoorDash confirms hot food delivery: The website links to DoorDash delivery for both locations — further confirming this is a restaurant selling hot prepared food, not a grocery store.
  • Archive immediately: Investigators, journalists, and law enforcement should capture this website evidence via web.archive.org before the operators remove the incriminating language.

🍗 Their Full Menu — Every Item is Hot Prepared Food

The following items are listed on manhattanmarketfnc.com. Every single main menu item is a hot prepared food item that is ineligible for SNAP purchase under federal law and Michigan regulations. This is the menu for which they openly advertise "EBT ACCEPTED HERE."

CHICKEN

All Hot Prepared — 100% Ineligible for EBT

ItemPrice Range
Whole Wings (3–100 pc)$6 – $150
Wings Dings (6–100 pc)$6 – $75
Chicken Tenders (3–25 pc)$6 – $38
Chicken Breast (1–10 pc)$4 – $40
Legs & Thighs (2–15 pc)$3 – $16
Spicy Chicken Bites (10–30 pc)$7 – $21
Chicken Gizzards (SM–Family)$6 – $20
FISH & SEAFOOD

All Hot Fried — 100% Ineligible for EBT

ItemPrice Range
Fish — Catfish, Perch, Tilapia, Whiting (2–100 pc)$4 – $120
Popcorn Shrimp (~1LB)$7
Butterfly Shrimp (10–20 pc)$8 – $15
Jumbo Shrimp (10–20 pc)$12 – $23
35 HOT COMBOS

Combos #1–#35 — All Hot Food + Fries + Kool Aid

The menu features 35 numbered hot food combos (all served with small fries and a drink), 3 "Manhattan Bucket" meals, and "Dinner Combos" — all consisting exclusively of hot prepared food. Prices range from $9 to $30+ per combo. All are 100% ineligible for SNAP.

Sauce options: BBQ, Honey BBQ, Honey Garlic, Buffalo, Ranch, Manhattan Sauce, Mango Habanero — at $1.00/cup. Hot sides include mac & cheese, spaghetti, red beans & rice, coleslaw, onion rings, hush puppies, fried okra, fried mushrooms, fried zucchini, jalapeño poppers, cheese sticks, fried pickles, fried green beans.

TOKEN ITEMS

The Only Non-Hot Items — The "Cover" Products

The only non-hot items listed on the entire website are buried in the "extras" section of the sides menu:

ItemPriceLegal Note
Bread (bag)$0.50SNAP eligible
Bread (loaf)$2.00SNAP eligible
Can of Pop$1.50SNAP eligible
2 Liter soda$3.00SNAP eligible
⚠ These token items do NOT qualify a hot food restaurant for SNAP authorization. Under USDA FNS policy, a store where >50% of sales are hot food is a restaurant, ineligible for SNAP — period.

DoorDash Delivery — Further Confirms Restaurant Classification

⚖️ The Law — Why This Is Illegal

Accepting EBT/SNAP cards for hot food, fried food, or any prepared hot meal at a restaurant is explicitly illegal under multiple overlapping federal and state laws. There are no exceptions for restaurants in Michigan. Below is a complete legal breakdown.

7 U.S.C. § 2014(b)

Federal SNAP Act — Hot Food Prohibition

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the federal SNAP statute) defines what items may be purchased with SNAP benefits. Under this law, hot foods and hot food products prepared for immediate consumption are explicitly excluded from SNAP-eligible items.

"SNAP benefits may not be used to purchase: alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, vitamins, medicines, non-food items, or hot foods or hot food products prepared for immediate consumption." — 7 U.S.C. § 2014(b), Food and Nutrition Act of 2008

Application to this case: Fried chicken, catfish, hot wings, macaroni and cheese, and all other hot prepared menu items sold at Manhattan Fish & Chicken Market are categorically ineligible for SNAP purchase. No cashier, manager, or owner has legal authority to accept EBT for these items. Doing so is a federal crime.

7 U.S.C. § 2024

Federal SNAP Trafficking & Fraud — Criminal Penalties

Knowingly misusing SNAP benefits — including processing fraudulent EBT transactions for ineligible items — constitutes SNAP trafficking under federal law and is prosecuted as a federal felony.

Offense Maximum Prison Sentence Maximum Fine
SNAP trafficking (under $5,000) 5 years federal prison $250,000
SNAP trafficking ($5,000 or more) 20 years federal prison $250,000
Organized scheme / conspiracy Additional charges apply Per conspiracy statute
Retailer permanent disqualification Lifetime ban from SNAP program

Given the alleged multi-year, multi-location nature of this scheme, the aggregate value of fraudulently processed SNAP transactions could reach into the millions of dollars, placing alleged violators squarely in the most serious federal criminal category.

USDA FNS Policy

USDA Retailer Eligibility — Prepared & Heated Foods (2023)

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has issued explicit policy clarification that heated foods, hot foods, and cold prepared foods are NOT staple foods and cannot be counted for SNAP retailer eligibility purposes. Furthermore:

  • If more than 50% of a firm's sales are hot foods, heated foods, or cold prepared foods, it is classified as a restaurant and is NOT eligible for SNAP authorization as a retail food store.
  • Michigan does NOT operate a Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), meaning no restaurant in Michigan may legally accept SNAP for hot food under any circumstances.
  • The "you-buy-we-fry" model — where a store sells raw product and cooks it on-site — is explicitly covered and prohibited under this policy.
  • A retailer setting up a token grocery display while primarily selling hot food to falsely qualify for SNAP authorization constitutes fraud under 7 CFR 278.6.
"Heated foods, hot foods, and cold prepared foods are not considered foods intended for home preparation and consumption for retailer eligibility determinations... If more than 50% of what a firm sells are heated foods, hot foods, and/or cold prepared foods, then that firm is considered a restaurant. Other than the states that operate a Restaurant Meals Program, restaurants are not eligible for SNAP authorization as retail food stores." — USDA FNS Policy Memorandum 2023-01, Retailer Eligibility — Prepared Foods and Heated Foods
MCL 750.300a

Michigan Penal Code — SNAP / Food Stamp Fraud (Act 328 of 1931)

Under Michigan Compiled Laws § 750.300a, any person who knowingly uses, transfers, acquires, alters, purchases, possesses, presents for redemption, or transports SNAP benefits or access devices (EBT cards) other than as authorized by federal law is guilty of a crime.

Aggregate Value of Fraud Classification Max Prison Max Fine
$250 or less Misdemeanor 93 days $1,000
$250.01 – $1,000 Felony 5 years $10,000
Over $1,000 Felony 10 years $250,000
Prior convictions (escalating) Enhanced Felony Enhanced penalties Enhanced fines
"A person who knowingly uses, transfers, acquires, alters, purchases, possesses, presents for redemption, or transports food stamps or coupons or access devices other than as authorized by the food stamp act of 1977, 7 U.S.C. 2011 to 2030, and the regulations promulgated under that act... is guilty of a crime." — MCL § 750.300a, Michigan Penal Code (Act 328 of 1931, as amended)

Michigan law also allows for a single charge covering an ongoing course of fraudulent conduct, with all transactions aggregated over a 12-month period. An alleged multi-year scheme processing hundreds of EBT transactions per week could result in aggregate fraud well exceeding $1,000,000, qualifying for the maximum felony classification under state law — in addition to parallel federal charges.

MDHHS Policy

Michigan MDHHS — Benefits Fraud Consequences

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) can take the following administrative and criminal actions against those found committing SNAP benefits fraud:

  • Administrative hearings and required repayment of all fraudulently obtained benefits
  • Criminal charges filed in Michigan state courts
  • Permanent, lifetime disqualification from the SNAP program for retailers found guilty of trafficking benefits
  • Disqualification imposed if benefits are traded for firearms, ammunition, or explosives
  • Civil and criminal money penalties assessed against the business entity and individual operators

Source: Michigan MDHHS Benefits Fraud

📸 Evidence & Findings

The following findings are based on eyewitness accounts, public record Google Street View and business imagery, and first-hand observations by community investigators who visited the locations.

Token grocery display shelf inside Manhattan Fish & Chicken Market Exhibit A

Token Grocery Display — 📸 Actual Photo

This actual photograph shows the token shelf of packaged snacks and beverages positioned near the entrance — allegedly maintained to fraudulently hold SNAP retailer authorization. The overwhelming operation is hot fried food. This minimal display does not make the business SNAP-eligible under USDA FNS Policy Memo 2023-01.

💳 Exhibit B

Cashier Soliciting EBT Use

Multiple community members report being directly asked by staff whether they would like to pay for their hot fried food order with their EBT card. Proactively soliciting EBT use for ineligible items constitutes knowing participation in benefits fraud.

🔫 Exhibit C

Bullet-Proof Glass & Armed Security

The location features bullet-proof glass, and an armed individual (reported as the owner's son) was observed posted behind it. For a standard fast food restaurant, this level of security investment is consistent with protecting a high-value illicit revenue stream.

🏠 Exhibit D

Unexplained Wealth

Investigators allege the operators have accumulated substantial personal assets — including fully paid-off high-value real estate — disproportionate to the legitimate income of a small fast food chain operating in a lower-income urban corridor. This pattern is consistent with federal SNAP fraud investigations nationwide.

📍 Exhibit E

Multiple Locations — Systemic Fraud

The alleged scheme is not limited to one location. Multiple Manhattan Fish & Chicken Market locations throughout the Detroit metropolitan area, Highland Park, and Dearborn are alleged to operate under the same fraudulent SNAP acceptance model, suggesting an organized, coordinated fraud operation.

Manhattan Fish & Chicken Market exterior storefront with EBT accepted signs Exhibit F

Storefront — "We Accept EBT" Signs — 📸 Actual Photo

The exterior of Manhattan Market — Fish & Chicken shows "WE ACCEPT EBT" and "WE ACCEPT DEBIT CARD" stickers displayed in the windows of a hot food restaurant — advertising SNAP acceptance for ineligible fried food to every street-level customer.

📸 Photographic Evidence
5 On-Site Photos

On-Site Photographs — Manhattan Fish & Chicken Market

The following photographs were taken at the Highland Park location (13224 Woodward Ave, Highland Park, MI 48203). Each image provides direct visual evidence of the alleged fraud scheme: a hot food restaurant openly accepting and advertising EBT/SNAP, using a token grocery display as a facade.

Manhattan Fish and Chicken Market exterior with EBT accepted window signs
📸 Photo 1 — Exterior

Storefront — "We Accept EBT" Signage

The exterior displays "WE ACCEPT EBT" window stickers on a hot fried food restaurant. Large signage reads "MANHATTAN MARKET — FISH & CHICKEN." EBT acceptance is publicly marketed to street-level customers for food that is categorically ineligible under SNAP.

⚠ Hot food restaurant with EBT advertised to the public
Interior counter and service window of Manhattan Fish and Chicken Market
📸 Photo 2 — Interior Counter

Service Counter & Protective Barrier

The interior shows a service counter with a protective barrier between staff and customers. This is the point of sale where EBT transactions are allegedly processed using fraudulent POS coding — disguising hot food purchases as SNAP-eligible grocery items to evade federal detection.

⚠ Alleged site of fraudulent EBT transaction processing
Fresh Grocery Items banner above hot food menu with We Accept EBT sign at Manhattan Market
🔑 Photo 3 — KEY EVIDENCE

"Fresh Grocery Items" Banner + "We Accept EBT" Sign + Hot Food Menu

This critical photo shows three elements simultaneously: (1) a large "FRESH GROCERY ITEMS" banner (milk, eggs, butter, bread) above the counter; (2) a "We Accept EBT" sign; and (3) directly below, the full hot-food menu board — Whole Wings, Wing Dings, Legs & Thighs, Fish, Shrimp, Breast. The grocery banner is the alleged SNAP fraud facade while the entire actual business is hot food.

🔑 KEY EVIDENCE: Grocery banner = SNAP fraud facade. Actual sales = 100% hot food.
Hot food menu board at service counter of Manhattan Fish and Chicken Market
📸 Photo 4 — Menu Board

Hot Food Service Counter & Menu Pricing Board

The service counter shows wall-mounted hot food pricing menus. Every item listed is a hot prepared food — fried chicken wings, fish, shrimp, tenders. No SNAP-eligible grocery items are offered at this counter. The layout and operation are unambiguously that of a restaurant, not a grocery store.

⚠ 100% hot food menu — zero SNAP-eligible items at this counter
Small token grocery shelf near entrance used to maintain SNAP retailer authorization
📸 Photo 5 — Fraud Facade

Token Grocery Shelf — The Alleged SNAP Fraud Facade

A minimal token grocery shelf holds packaged snacks and beverages near the entrance. This sparse display is allegedly maintained purely to satisfy SNAP retailer authorization paperwork while the business operates overwhelmingly as a hot food restaurant. USDA FNS Policy Memo 2023-01: any business where over 50% of sales are hot/prepared foods is classified as a restaurant and is ineligible for SNAP authorization in Michigan.

⚠ Token items do NOT qualify a hot food restaurant for SNAP — USDA FNS Policy Memo 2023-01
📂 Preserve This Evidence Now

Archive manhattanmarketfnc.com immediately at web.archive.org/save before the "EBT ACCEPTED HERE" text is removed. Screenshot and save all five photographs above. Submit to USDA OIG at hotline.oig.usda.gov as supporting evidence.

📷 External Reference: Google Maps Street View & Business Photos

 Street View — Location 1  Google Maps — Business Photos  View on Google Maps
⭐ Customer & Health Complaints
Note: The following are publicly available customer reviews from Google Maps. They are included as part of the public interest record to demonstrate patterns of food safety violations and customer mistreatment, which may indicate lack of proper oversight and regulatory compliance at this establishment. These are the words of the original reviewers.
🩸

Undercooked / Raw Food — Bloodied Chicken

Multiple customers reported receiving chicken that was not cooked through, including blood coming out of the meat. Serving undercooked poultry is a critical public health violation and a serious food safety risk.

🐛

Foreign Object in Food — Bug Found in Fried Batter

At least one customer reported finding a bug fried into the batter of their order. The customer stated they planned to contact the health and safety department — a warranted response indicating potential serious pest infestation violations.

🔥

Consistently Overcooked / Refried Food

Multiple reviewers reported burnt, overcooked, and refried chicken and catfish — indicating possible batch preparation and storage practices that are inconsistent with fresh-food standards.

😡

Hostile, Abusive Customer Service

Customers who called to report incorrect or unsafe orders were reportedly met with argument, dismissal, and being hung up on. When customers visited in person to report issues, staff suggested they "don't have to order here" — a pattern of disregard for customer welfare.

"
Jayce Pratt
★☆☆☆☆
1 Star — Google Review — 3 Months Ago
"This was absolutely unacceptable, we got the ten piece meal and when we were eating, blood came out the chicken! It was half done. This is absolutely unacceptable to serve food that's not even cooked properly! We will not be coming back."
⚠ Public Health Concern — Undercooked poultry is a Salmonella risk and a health code violation
"
Anonymous Reviewer
★☆☆☆☆
1 Star — Google Review — 2 Months Ago
"1st and last time ordering food from this location. 😡 My order was not completed right — I ordered the buy 1 get 1 free lg Mac n Cheese only gave me one, and my Chicken and Catfish both were overcooked and looked burnt! When I called back up there to tell them about my order, the man tried to argue me down! NOT EVER AGAIN!!! 😡"
⚠ Customer Service Violation — Arguing with customers reporting food safety issues
"
DoorDash Customer
★☆☆☆☆
1 Star — Google Review
"I usually don't do this, but I DoorDashed an order for a 6 piece and a macaroni and cheese — the chicken was well overcooked. The macaroni was very salty and tastes like a whole bunch of mixed liquid cheese. Very nasty. And on the chicken, it looks like they just dropped a whole bunch of lemon pepper seasoning on them."
⚠ Consistent pattern of poor food quality and preparation standards
"
Health-Concerned Reviewer
★☆☆☆☆
1 Star — Google Review — Health & Safety Warning
"I got some chicken here and I had a bug fried in the batter. Like this place is the most nasty, disgusting, vile place I have ever been. Definitely gonna call the food and health department. This place needs to be inspected. They are so nasty, oh my God, so nasty."
⚠ CRITICAL — Bug found in food. Health Department inspection urgently warranted
"
Regular Customer
★☆☆☆☆
1 Star — Google Review — Ongoing Issue
"The last time I ordered here, my food was refried, not fresh. I called to order again today and I was asking can my food be fresh, and he was acting as if he could not hear me... He responded 'yes' then when I got into my request, as he cut me off saying 'you can order or not because the food always fresh' and hung up on me while I was trying to have an understanding... Not once but twice he suggested that I don't have to spend my money… It's my money I worked hard for, and you don't have to beg me not to spend it at your business. The company [is] way too comfortable to be talking to customers like that."
⚠ Pattern of abusive customer treatment — indicative of business operating without accountability

🏥 Have a Health Complaint?

Food safety violations like undercooked chicken, foreign objects in food, and pest infestations must be reported to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the local health department. Your report triggers a formal inspection and protects your community.

 File Food Safety Complaint (MDARD)  Check License Status
📞 How to Report This Fraud

If you have witnessed, experienced, or have information about SNAP/EBT fraud at Manhattan Fish & Chicken Market or any other location in Michigan, please report immediately through one or more of the following channels. All reports can be made anonymously. Your report matters and protects millions of taxpayers and SNAP recipients who depend on program integrity.

🏛️

USDA OIG Hotline

The USDA Office of Inspector General investigates all forms of SNAP fraud, including retailer fraud, benefits trafficking, and unauthorized redemptions. Reports can be made by phone, online, or by mail. Completely anonymous.

1-800-424-9121  File Online Report (USDA OIG)
🏥

Michigan MDHHS Fraud Line

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services accepts fraud reports about SNAP retailers and recipients operating in Michigan. Reports trigger formal state-level investigations.

1-888-678-8914  Michigan Welfare Fraud Online Form
⚖️

Michigan Attorney General

The Michigan AG's office investigates and prosecutes Medicaid and welfare fraud. For major fraud schemes involving multiple locations and significant amounts, the AG may open a dedicated criminal investigation.

1-877-765-8388  AG Fraud Report Portal
📋

Michigan Welfare Fraud Online

Submit a formal written complaint directly through the official Michigan government welfare fraud complaint portal. Specify whether the fraud involves a client, a business, or a government employee.

 File Official Michigan Complaint
🔍

USDA FNS Online Report

Report retailer fraud directly to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. This is the primary agency responsible for authorizing and regulating SNAP retailers and can act to revoke a store's SNAP license.

 USDA FNS Report Fraud
📰

Media & Investigative Journalism

Contact local Michigan media outlets to amplify this investigation. Public pressure and media coverage are powerful tools in driving regulatory action against entrenched fraud operations.

 Bridge Michigan Investigative News
📄 Ready-to-Send Letters

10 Official Complaint Letters — All Agencies

Pre-drafted formal complaint letters addressed to every agency: USDA OIG, USDA FNS, Michigan MDHHS, Michigan AG, FBI Detroit, Wayne County DA, IRS Criminal Investigation, MDARD, U.S. Attorney, and Michigan State Police. Fill in your name — ready to print and mail.

 View & Print All Letters →
📰 Ready-to-Distribute

5 Official Press Releases — Send to Media & Agencies

Five professionally drafted press releases covering: initial fraud disclosure, website self-admission evidence, call for federal investigation, public health violations, and community impact. Distribute freely to Detroit Free Press, WXYZ-TV, WDIV, FOX 2, MLive, Bridge Michigan, and all agencies.

 View All 5 Press Releases →

🚨 Report SNAP Fraud — National Hotline

1-800-424-9121

USDA Office of Inspector General — Available 24/7 — Anonymous Reports Accepted


You can also submit an online report at hotline.oig.usda.gov  |  Michigan MDHHS: mdhhs.michigan.gov/Fraud

📝 What to Include in Your Report

Key Information to Provide

  • Business name: Manhattan Fish & Chicken Market
  • Primary address: 13224 Woodward Ave, Highland Park, MI 48203
  • Phone: (313) 866-4000
  • Website: manhattanmarketfnc.com
  • Alleged operators: Youssef Ahmed Baraghith, Moustafa Mohamed A. Baraghith, and Ahmed Mohamed Baraghith (alleged, provide as tips for investigation)
  • Nature of fraud: Hot food (fried chicken, catfish, hot wings) allegedly sold using EBT/SNAP cards; fake market display installed as front for SNAP retailer authorization
  • Method: Cashiers allegedly solicited EBT use for hot food; transactions allegedly coded as non-hot grocery items in POS system
  • Duration: Alleged scheme reported to span several years across multiple locations
  • Date(s) witnessed: Provide specific dates if you witnessed the fraud personally
  • Additional context: Armed security behind bullet-proof glass; multiple locations in Detroit metro area
❓ Frequently Asked Questions

⚖️ Legal Disclaimer & Editorial Notice

This website is published in the public interest as a community resource for reporting and understanding SNAP/EBT fraud in Michigan. The allegations described herein regarding Youssef Ahmed Baraghith, Moustafa Mohamed A. Baraghith, Ahmed Mohamed Baraghith, and Manhattan Fish & Chicken Market have been submitted by community members and have not been proven in a court of law. All named persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty through the judicial process.

The purpose of this report is to encourage victims, witnesses, and community members to come forward and report information to the appropriate law enforcement and regulatory authorities listed on this page. The legal information provided is derived from publicly available federal statutes, Michigan state law, and USDA policy memoranda.

The customer reviews included on this page are publicly available and unedited testimonials from Google Maps and similar platforms. They are reproduced here as part of the public record in the interest of consumer protection and public health.

If you are an attorney, law enforcement officer, or government official and wish to contact us regarding any information on this page, or if any information is factually incorrect, please use the reporting channels listed to direct your inquiry appropriately.