Three arrested in FBI raid in Myrtle Beach

Three people were arrested Thursday during several FBI raids in Myrtle Beach.

Sherif Abdelwahab Alkassar, 36, of Myrtle Beach, Lesley Amanda Alkassar, 38, of Blacksburg, and Katie Leighanne Polson, 29, of Myrtle Beach, were arrested on charges of Electronic Benefits Transfer fraud, according to the FBI.

Sherif Alkassar also was charged with making false statements relating to naturalization and citizenship.

All three appeared before Judge Kaymani West in a federal court in Florence and were released on personal recognizance bonds, according to the court docket.

Personal recognizance means the defendants were released without paying bail and have promised to show up for their court date.

Stas Mamonka, a student from Belarus who’s in Myrtle Beach to work for the summer, said the FBI raided the 7 Brothers Motel at 103 North Ocean Boulevard where he was staying.

Mamonka said FBI agents arrived in black vehicles shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday.

The FBI questioned him about where he was from, and how he paid for the apartment, he said.

He said the agents were there for about 20 minutes before leaving.

This story was originally published June 9, 2016 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Three arrested in FBI raid in Myrtle Beach."