Dubai To Philly Prom Mom Charged With Fraud

Menina Preta

Well-Known Member
Philly Restaurant Owner, Known for Camel Prom & Massive Christmas Giveaway, Charged With Fraud

A North Philadelphia restaurateur, who gained local fame last year for spending $25,000 on her son's prom that included camels, has been charged with allegedly defrauding the Social Security Administration.

Saudia Shuler was indicted for allegedly collecting nearly $37,000 in government benefits by claiming she was disabled yet continuing to work, according to the U.S. Attorney for Eastern Pennsylvania.

"The defendant applied for benefits from the Social Security Administration, claiming she was disabled and unable to work. After Social Security approved benefits, the defendant continued working, including the operation of her own restaurant," a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office said in an email Tuesday. "This work and income was never reported to Social Security, in violation of program rules."

The fraud charges come in the aftermath of a momentous year for Shuler, 44, who twice made headlines for lavish spending.

In the spring of 2017, Shuler spent $25,000 on a camel, three tons of sand and exotic cars for a massive event in her neighborhood celebrating her son’s prom.

It was dubbed "Dubai to Philly."

Months later, at Christmas time, the North Philly restaurant owner held another big party in her neighborhood. It featured hundreds of gifts and two reindeer.

“I know what hard time is,” Saudia Shuler told the crowd of hundreds who gathered along North 22nd Street. “Because I come from hard times.”

The event was held at "Country Cookin'," the restaurant Shuler owns. She put her role as a business owner aside for the night however and became ‘Saudia Claus,’ handing out hundreds of gifts to excited children.

“We gave them 140 bikes,” she said. “We gave out over 50 scooters. We gave out ‘Batman’ cars, like the remote-controlled cars you put your feet on and then drive.”

Shuler told NBC10 that she used the chances to celebrate her good fortunes after dealing with tragedies, including the murder of her son's father and multiple health scares over the past decade.

“I had a stroke. I had seizures. I had cancer,” she said. “All within the last three years.”

At the time, Shuler said she’s received donations from all over the country to help pay for the outsize events.

Her attorney, Tariq El-Shabazz, described the indictment as a "bone with any meat." He added that Shuler is still waiting to see what evidence the U.S. Attorney's office will present.

She faces six counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of government funds and two counts of Social Security fraud.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/new...-490834441.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_PHBrand
 

Miss_Luna

Well-Known Member
"Her attorney, Tariq El-Shabazz, described the indictment as a "bone with any meat." He added that Shuler is still waiting to see what evidence the U.S. Attorney's office will present."

So they think the government doesn't have the internet, or...

How can she explain someone donating a camel? This will be interesting. She should've stayed low; you can't stunt on government assistance and it isn't fair to people that really need assistance and are routinely denied. But I really thought something was up when she spent $25K on a prom, but didn't use that money for a nice townhouse in Montgomery County.
 

Shimmie

"God is the Only Truth -- Period"
Staff member
Tis easier for that camel [she acquired] to go through the eye of a needle … :nono:

I mean, did she not even wonder that folks would also wonder how she lived in that neighborhood and then paid for all of 'dat'??? The dirty sidewalk in front of her house for her daughter's prom was a true giveaway.
 

VeryBecoming

Devil's Avocado
 

intellectualuva

Well-Known Member
I saw the article and was coming to see if the original thread has been updated.

Hope she doesn't go to jail. You cant mess with uncle Sam. She decorated the neighborhood like the North Pole???. All those people who gladly participated wont have anything for her legal fees. Playing big shot, but you got a son in college...sheesh.
 

moneychaser

Well-Known Member
Yeah it looks like she started a fundraiser to help kids get hair/nails/suits/dresses. While I think it’s quite frivolous, everyone deserves to feel special at least once in their live. An escape from the inner city.

But with all the money they spent, they could have gotten some red carpet for the steps. Lol.

She felt the need to broadcast her good deeds which resulted in this.

I’m sure someone reported her.
 

Menina Preta

Well-Known Member
What kind of permanent disability did she claim I wonder? Because running a restaurant is fairly hard work to do!

I wonder which foolish doctor or nurse practitioner signed off on this. I have a 20 something year old faxing disability paperwork to my office. I am just not even responding bc home girl needs psych but keeps seeing 50-11 specialists for crazy symptoms. I refuse to put my name on state documents for disability claims I do not support.
 

HappilyLiberal

Well-Known Member
I saw the article and was coming to see if the original thread has been updated.

Hope she doesn't go to jail. You cant mess with uncle Sam. She decorated the neighborhood like the North Pole???. All those people who gladly participated wont have anything for her legal fees. Playing big shot, but you got a son in college...sheesh.

Are we sure the son is in college?
 
I wonder which foolish doctor or nurse practitioner signed off on this. I have a 20 something year old faxing disability paperwork to my office. I am just not even responding bc home girl needs psych but keeps seeing 50-11 specialists for crazy symptoms. I refuse to put my name on state documents for disability claims I do not support.
:rolleyes: Y'all are no fun lately, can't get anyone to sign off on a lil fmla form or anything else so that someone can go on a 3 month vacay...loosen up :lachen:
 

Transformer

Well-Known Member
Maybe she isn't cooking or taking a salary from the restaurant. But she can derive income as a passive owner or partner in an enterprise.
 
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