UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Twelve local people are under federal indictment for allegedly defrauding the government out of more than $2 million in a food stamp scheme.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney's Office joined local officials Tuesday to announce the arrest of eight local convenience store workers and owners. Police are still looking for four others.

The following, all of Utica, have been indicted:

*Muteea Alfahdd, 41
*Najeeb Abdullah, 44
*Hamoud Yafal, 60
*Ali Hamoud Yafal, 21
*Yaser Saet, 27
*Bakri Ali Samet, 33
*Setha Samnang, 42
*Rina Samnang, 36

The following four have been indicted, but are still being sought by police.

*Nageeb Alghaheim, 24
*Mohamed Alshuja, 30
*Hassan Mohamed Nagi Alshegaa, 23
*Ali Mulhi Abdullah, 36

They're accused of accepting food stamps in exchange for cash adding up to more than $2 million during the 18 month investigation. The six convenience stores that were identified as having disbursed cash in exchange for the benefits were:

*Sure Save Market, 1400 Kemble Street
*Manhattan Plaza #2, 1321 Oneida Street
*C&M Deli, 1029 West Street
*William Street Food Corp., 627 William Street
*1038 Food Corp, 1038 Court Street
*Phnom Penh Market, 1633 Oneida Street

County leaders said it's the people who really need the food stamp benefits the most who end up being hurt in cases like this.

Each of those arrested face five years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines for each offense.