Oregon Couple Accused of Accepting Kickbacks From California Food Wholesaler

So far no charges have been filed.

Salem-News.com

(EUGENE) - An Oregon couple is accused of accepting $650,000 in kickbacks from a California food wholesaler.

Farhad "Fred" Monem is the food-purchasing manager for Oregon’s prison system, along with his wife, Karen Monem, allegedly used the kickbacks to pay their mortgage, car payments, credit cards, membership in a golf club and other expenses, according to a search warrant affidavit filed by an IRS investigator in a U.S. District Court in Eugene.

The search warrant affidavit details transactions between Santa Clarita-based food wholesaler Levin & Lawrence Inc., Monem, his wife Karen Monem, and the two companies the couple formed.

Monem has been a state employee for more than 10 years and is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, said Perrin Damon, spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections.

The investigator said that the couple participated in a scheme where he used taxpayer funds to purchase large amounts of bulk and distressed food for Oregon prisoners from a Los Angeles based food distribution company.

In return, the company would kickback a portion of the profits by giving him cash and checks made out to a company formed by the couple, Jamm Inc., to receive the illegal payments.