Judge delays Wichita food stamp conspiracy trial

? A federal judge has granted a two-month delay in the food stamp fraud trial of two Wichita grocery store owners and other defendants.

U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten on Thursday rescheduled the trial of Muhammad Qadeer Akram and his wife, Shama Qadeer, to Oct. 4. The couple own Alnoor Grocery. The delay was requested by co-defendant Sobhi Dana, who wanted more time to review the evidence.

Thirteen people are charged in two federal indictments with defrauding the government out of more than $580,000. Prosecutors allege the defendants conspired to buy customers’ food stamps for cash at a profit.

A separate indictment charges Kansas Food Market owner Ahmed Ajami Al-Maleki, who faces trial Aug. 30.