Scores of prominent Islamic migrant figures, most with deep ties to the Democratic Party and including donors to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s reelection campaign, alongside a celebrated left-wing journalist, business owners, and government workers, stand accused of wire fraud, money laundering, bribery, and conspiracy to commit those crimes. They allegedly funneled millions of federal dollars, earmarked for feeding underprivileged children, into personal luxuries, ranging from lavish homes and high-end cars to even a beach resort in Kenya.

The Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, uncovered by federal authorities, represents one of the most egregious examples of pandemic-era fraud, with over $250 million stolen from programs designed to feed needy children in Minnesota. The scheme involved a network of almost exclusively Islamic immigrant defendants who exploited the Federal Child Nutrition Program. This program was intended to provide nutritious food to underserved children, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when regular school meals were disrupted.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office recently announced the indictment of ten additional individuals, bringing the total number of defendants to 70. These latest indictments involve charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery, highlighting the complex web of deceit spun by the accused to misappropriate federal funds. About half of the individuals charged in the Feeding Our Future fraud case have also received tens of millions of dollars in state contracts for services like child care and assistance to seniors and people with disabilities. It has been noted that among the 70 defendants, many attempted to flee their home countries, which are predominantly Islamic-controlled, as authorities closed in on them.

Among the newly indicted is Ikram Mohamed, a 41-year-old consultant for Feeding Our Future, who played a pivotal role in the operation. Mohamed is accused of using her consultancy, IM Consultation LLC, to launder kickbacks and fraud proceeds under the guise of operating several food sites enrolled under the Federal Child Nutrition Program. She is charged with multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

Mohamed’s family members were deeply involved in the scam. Her husband, Shakur Abdinur Abdisalam, falsely claimed to have served over one million meals through his company, Inspiring Youth & Out Reach LLC (“Inspiring Youth”), defrauding over $1.5 million. Similarly, Mohamed’s sister, Aisha Hassan Hussein, and her mother, Fadumo Mohamed Yusuf, operated sites that collectively claimed to serve nearly 2 million meals, obtaining millions in fraudulent funds.

Suleman Yusuf Mohamed and Gandi Yusuf Mohamed, brothers of Ikram Mohamed, along with other defendants such as Sahra Sharif Osman, Said Ereg, Najmo Ahmed, and Hoda Ali Abdi, were also implicated in the scheme. Each played a role in creating entities or running operations that submitted false claims for meal services that were either inflated or never provided, funneling millions of dollars for personal gain.

The federal Child and Adult Care Program and the Summer Food Service Program, together allocating $4 billion annually to feed people across the country, became conduits for this extensive embezzlement. Feeding Our Future, as a recipient of hundreds of millions of dollars from these federal programs between 2019 and 2021, channeled funds to numerous nonprofits primarily run by immigrants across Minnesota. However, these funds were allegedly diverted for personal enrichment rather than fulfilling their intended purpose of providing meals to underserved children.

Federal prosecutors assert that sponsor organizations like Feeding Our Future distributed them to food vendors and sites upon receiving funds through the Minnesota Department of Education. These entities were entrusted with providing ready-to-eat meals to local children. Instead, it’s alleged that most funds were squandered on lavish personal expenses such as luxury homes and flashy cars.

According to Minnesota Department of Education records, Feeding Our Future was legally allowed to keep up to 15 percent of the funds it received as administrative fees. However, the indictment alleges that the organization and its contractors went far beyond this, using fraudulent means to siphon off millions of dollars.

The detailed accounts of fraudulent activities, from creating sham companies to submitting falsified meal counts and attendance rosters, paint a picture of a calculated exploitation of a federal program designed to provide crucial nutrition to underserved children during the Covid crisis. The defendants’ actions, driven by greed, not only misappropriated vast sums but also undermined the integrity of a critical support system.

The individuals charged in the indictments span a wide range of backgrounds, from Islamic restaurant owners to Islamic nonprofit executives. Their alleged involvement in this elaborate scheme underscores the breadth and complexity of the fraud perpetrated against programs intended to support vulnerable communities.

The following individuals are named in the indictment United States v. Aimee Marie Bock et al. indictment

1. Aimee Marie Bock, 41, Apple Valley, founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future. Prosecutors accused her of overseeing the fraud scheme. She has pleaded not guilty.
2. Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 39, of Burnsville, worked for Feeding Our Future and is accused of soliciting and receiving bribes and kickbacks from sites Feeding Our Future sponsored. According to court documents, agents believe Eidleh fled the country and was in Mogadishu, Somalia.
3. Salim Ahmed Said, 33, of Plymouth, owns and operates Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, one of the largest Feeding Our Future sites, which received more than $16 million.
4. Abdulkadir Nur Salah, 36, of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Abdulkadir Salah owned and operated Safari Restaurant, a site receiving over $16 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
5. Ahmed Sharif Omar-Hashim, also known as “Salah Donyale,” 39, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Omar-Hashim created Olive Management Inc., a site that received approximately $5 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
6. Abdi Nur Salah, 34, Minneapolis, a former senior policy aide to Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, acquired the nonprofit Stigma-Free International from its previous owner, listed in the indictment as “Individual A.”
7. Abdihakim Ali Ahmed, 36, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Abdihakim Ahmed created ASA Limited LLC, a site that received approximately $5 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
8. Ahmed Mohamed Artan, 37, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Artan registered Stigma-Free International, a non-profit entity used to carry out the scheme with sites throughout Minnesota, including in Willmar, Mankato, St. Cloud, Waite Park, and St. Paul.
9. Abdikadir Ainanshe Mohamud, also known as “AK,” 30, Fridley, ran the Stigma-Free Willmar food site (supplied by the Safari Restaurant of Minneapolis), which claimed to serve 1.6 million meals and received more than $4 million in federal funds. In December 2021, Mayor Frey appointed Abdikadir to his Minneapolis Community Safety Workgroup.
10. Abdinasir Mahamed Abshir, 30, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Abdinasir Abshir ran the Stigma-Free Mankato site. This site claimed to have served more than 1.6 million meals and received approximately $5 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
11. Asad Mohamed Abshir, 32, of Mankato, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Asad Abshir ran the Stigma-Free Mankato site. This site claimed to have served more than 1.6 million meals and received approximately $5 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
12. Hamdi Hussein Omar, 26, of St. Paul, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Omar ran the Stigma-Free Waite Park site. This site claimed to have served more than 500,000 meals and received more than $1 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
13. Ahmed Abdullahi Ghedi, 32, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Ghedi created ASA Limited LLC, a site that received approximately $5 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
14. Abdirahman Mohamud Ahmed, 54, of Columbus, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. Abdirahman Ahmed was an owner and operator of Safari Restaurant, a site that received more than $16 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.

• It is important to note that the owners and partners of Safari Restaurant allegedly took millions. Six of the men listed above made large donations to the reelection campaign of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey–including Abdikadir Mohamud, whom the mayor appointed to a committee for public safety.

The following individuals are named in the indictment United States v. Abdiaziz Shafii Farah et al. 

15. Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, 33, Savage, owner and operator of Empire Cuisine and Market LLC. Which received more than $28 million. He was arrested and charged with making a false statement on a passport application after applying for a new one. FBI agents had raided his home in January and seized his passport. He pleaded not guilty.
16. Mohamed Jama Ismail, 49, Savage, owner and operator of Empire Cuisine and Market LLC. He was arrested at the airport before a flight to Nairobi, Kenya, and pleaded guilty in July to making false statements when applying for a new passport after FBI agents seized his passport.
17. Mahad Ibrahim, 46, Lewis Center, Ohio, president and owner of ThinkTechAct Foundation, also known as Mind Foundry Learning Foundation, which created dozens of sites throughout Minnesota and received more than $18 million. Ibrahim pleaded not guilty.
18. Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, 21, of Shakopee, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Abdimajid Nur created Nur Consulting LLC to receive and launder Federal Child Nutrition Program funds from Empire Cuisine and Market, ThinkTechAct, and other entities involved in the scheme.
19. Said Shafii Farah, 40, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Said Farah, the brother of Abdiaziz Farah, owned Bushra Wholesalers LLC, a shell company used to launder fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
20. Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin, 32, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Aftin owned Bushra Wholesalers LLC, a shell company that used to launder fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
21. Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, 31, of Bloomington, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Shariff was the chief executive officer of Afrique Hospitality Group, a shell company used to fraudulent obtain and launder Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
22. Hayat Mohamed Nur, 25, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Hayat Nur, the sister of Abdimajid Nur, participated in the scheme by creating and submitting fraudulent meal count sheets, attendance rosters, and invoices.

The following individuals are named in the indictment United States v. Qamar Ahmed Hassan, et al.

23. Qamar Ahmed Hassan, 53, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Hassan was the owner and operator of S & S Catering Inc., a for-profit restaurant and catering business that participated in the scheme as a distribution site and as a vendor for other sites. S & S Catering received over $18 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
24. Sahra Mohamed Nur, 61, of Saint Anthony, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Nur ran an Academy For Youth Excellence site that used S & S Catering as a vendor.
25. Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud, 32, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Mohamud ran a site called Academy For Youth Excellence that used S & S Catering as a vendor.
26. Filsan Mumin Hassan, 28, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Hassan ran a site called Youth Higher Educational Achievement that falsely claimed to serve up to 4,300 meals a day.
27. Guhaad Hashi Said, 46, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Hashi ran a site named Advance Youth Athletic Development that falsely claimed to serve up to 5,000 meals a day.
28. Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 62, of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Jesow ran a site called Academy For Youth Excellence that used S & S Catering as a vendor.
29. Abdul Abubakar Ali, 40, of St. Paul, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Abdul Ali ran a site called Youth Inventors Lab that falsely claimed to have served approximately 1.5 million meals in a seven-month period.
30. Yusuf Bashir Ali, 40, of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Yusuf Ali ran a site called Youth Inventors Lab that falsely claimed to have served approximately 1.5 million meals in a seven-month period.

The following individuals are named in the indictment United States v. Haji Osman Salad et al.

31. Haji Osman Salad, 32, of St. Anthony, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Salad was the principal of Haji’s Kitchen and received approximately $11.6 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
32. Fahad Nur, 38, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Nur was the principal of The Produce LLC, a vendor and purported food supplier who received more than $5 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
33. Anab Artan Awad, 52, of Plymouth, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Awad was the president of Multiple Community Services, MCA. Awad claimed more than $11 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. She initially pleaded not guilty but changed her plea in November.
34. Sharmarke Issa, 40, of Edina, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Issa created a company called Minnesota’s Somali Community and was the manager of Wacan Restaurant LLC. Issa fraudulently caused MDE to pay out more than $7.4 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. He chaired the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority and resigned in February.
35. Farhiya Mohamud, 63, of Bloomington, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Mohamud was the principal and CEO of Dua Supplies and Distribution Inc., a shell company that laundered millions of dollars of fraudulently obtained Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.

The following individuals are named in the indictment United States v. Liban Yasin Alishire et al.

36. Liban Yasin Alishire, 42, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, and money laundering. Alishire was the president and owner of Community Enhancement Services Inc., a company located in the JigJiga Business Center in Minneapolis. Community Enhancement Services was a cultural mall owned and operated by Alishire and co-defendant Khadar Jigre Adan. Community Enhancement Services received more than $1.6 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
37. Ahmed Yasin Ali,,57, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Ali created a second program site, run by Lake Street Kitchen and located in the JigJiga Business Center in Minneapolis.
38. Khadar Jigre Adan, 59, of Lakeville, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Adan was the CEO of Lake Street Kitchen, which was a program site located in the JigJiga Business Center in Minneapolis.

The following individuals are named in the indictment United States v. Sharmarke Jama et al.

39. Sharmake Jama, 34, of Rochester, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Sharmake Jama was a principal of Brava Restaurant and Café LLC. Brava Restaurant received approximately $4.3 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
40. Ayan Jama, 43, of Rochester, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Ayan Jama was a principal of Brava Restaurant and Café LLC. Ayan Jama also created shell companies to launder fraudulent proceeds.
41. Asha Jama, 39, of Lakeville, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. Asha Jama worked for Brava Restaurant and created shell companies to launder fraudulent proceeds.
42. Fartun Jama, 35, of Rosemount, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. Fartun Jama worked for Brava Restaurant and created shell companies to launder fraudulent proceeds.
43. Mustafa Jama, 45, of Rochester, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. Mustafa Jama worked for Brava Restaurant and created shell companies to launder fraudulent proceeds.
44. Zamzam Jama, 48, of Rochester, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. Zamzam Jama worked for Brava Restaurant and created shell companies to launder fraudulent proceeds.

The following individuals are named in criminal information, another form of charging document. Each of the following people is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

45. Bekam Addissu Merdassa, 39,  of Inver Grove Heights, pleaded guilty in October, admitting he used Youth Inventors Lab as a “shell company” and submitted fake invoices to buy food from S&S Catering. He agreed to pay $343,086 in restitution.
46. Hadith Yusuf Ahmed, 34, Eden Prairie, was a Feeding Our Future employee responsible for monitoring sites. He pleaded guilty in October, admitting he operated a “pay to play” system that required kickbacks from sites and creating an LLC to disguise the kickbacks as “consultant fees.” He admitted to creating a business claiming to serve 2,000 meals a day in Eden Prairie but served “nowhere near” that number of meals.
47. Hanna Markegn, 40, Edina owned Brava Café in Minneapolis. She pleaded guilty in October, admitting her business received $7.1 million and falsely claimed to serve more than 4,000 meals a day. She admitted to fabricating invoices and paying $150,000 in kickbacks but testified that Feeding Our Future terminated her contract when she refused to pay additional kickbacks. She said in a February interview that she was asked for the kickback to “just do like everyone else is doing.” She agreed to pay $5.1 million in restitution.

Two people were arrested and charged via complaint after buying tickets to leave the country.

48. Mekfira Hussein of Shakopee ran Shamsia Hopes, a Brooklyn Center nonprofit that prosecutors say claimed to serve more than 3.4 million meals in 2020 and 2021 and received about $7.8 million. She was charged in September and indicted by a grand jury in October on charges of federal programs bribery. Her attorney said she was scammed by a Feeding Our Future employee who submitted fraudulent invoices that appeared to be from her and made it look like he was assisting her and her husband. She was charged after buying a one-way ticket to Ethiopia that was set to leave on the evening of September 20.
49. Mohamed Noor, a prominent community journalist and owner of Xogmaal Media Group in Minneapolis, also known as Deeq Darajo, was arrested on September 26 in Chicago while attempting to travel to Istanbul. Noor, who resides in Blaine, is accused of receiving $500,000. Authorities apprehended him before boarding his flight to Turkey. The charges allege that he is the cousin of Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, an employee of Feeding Our Future who also faces charges. Noor was indicted by a grand jury in October and has pleaded not guilty.
50. Abduljabar Hussein, 42, of Shakopee, created Oromia Feeds LLC in December 2020 to supply food to Shamsia Hopes, the nonprofit run by his wife, Mekfira Hussein. He was charged in October.

The following individuals were charged on March 13, 2023.

51. Mohamed Ali Hussein, Faribault, president and owner of Somali American Faribault Education (SAFE), a nonprofit organization that operated a food site under Feeding Our Future. He pleaded guilty in June 2023 to stealing more than $5 million in federal funds that were supposed to feed underprivileged children.

52. Lul Bashir Ali, Faribault, owner of Lido Restaurant, a food site and meal vendor that purported to provide and serve meals at the Somali American Faribault Education site. She pleaded guilty in June 2023 to stealing more than $5 million in federal funds that were supposed to feed underprivileged children.

53. Mulata Ali, 38, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting in the theft of public money. Mulata operated Franklyn Transportation LLC, which federal authorities allege fraudsters used as a shell company to launder more than $2 million of stolen federal money. Federal district Judge Nancy Brasel told Mulata that his admission of guilt could impact his immigration status. Mulata is a permanent resident and not a U.S. citizen.

54. Kawsar Jama, Eagan, 41, was the principal of Gedo Community Services and Ahlan Childcare Center, Inc., both of which Jama enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. As alleged, between September 2020 through February 2022, Jama falsely claimed to have served approximately 1.46 million meals to needy children at sites in Pelican Rapids, Burnsville, and Minneapolis. Jama submitted $3.7 million in fraudulent claims for Federal Child Nutrition Program funds, some of which she spent on living expenses, real estate, and vehicles, including a Tesla Model X and an Infiniti QX56 SUV. Jama is charged with five counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering.

55. Abdikadir Kadiye, 51, of Minneapolis, was the president of Hobyo Health Care Foundation, which he enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Sponsor A. As alleged, throughout 2021, Kadiye falsely claimed to have served at least 445,000 meals to needy children at his sites in Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, and Minneapolis. In total, Kadiye submitted more than $1.1 million in fraudulent claims for Federal Child Nutrition Program funds, some of which he spent on vehicles (including a $105,000 2022 BMW sport utility vehicle), airline tickets, real estate, and $20,000 towards the purchase of a laundromat. Kadiye is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of wire fraud.

56. Abdulkadir Awale, 50, of Bloomington, was the principal of Karmel Coffee, LLC and Sambusa King, Inc., and the CEO of Nawal Restaurant. All three of Awale’s businesses were enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. As alleged, between April 2020 and January 2022, Awale falsely claimed that through his businesses, he provided food for more than 3.6 million meals to various sites in Minnesota, totaling approximately $11.8 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Awale also paid at least $83,000 in kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee. Awale used some of the funds to make mortgage payments, cash withdrawals, and purchase vehicles, including a Freightliner Cascadia truck. Awale is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, five counts of money laundering, three counts of wire fraud, and four counts of federal programs bribery.

57. Khadra Abdi, 41, of Minneapolis, was the principal of Shafi’I Tutoring & Homework Help Center, which she enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. As alleged, between April 2020 through December 2021, Abdi falsely claimed to serve 1.1 million meals to needy children at her site in Hopkins. In total, Abdi submitted more than $3.4 million in fraudulent claims for Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Abdi also paid at least $17,000 in kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee. Abdi used some of the funds to make credit card payments, cash withdrawals, and purchase clothing. Abdi is charged with two counts of wire fraud and three counts of federal programs bribery.

58. Ayan Farah Abukar, founder and executive director of Action for East African People, a nonprofit that provides health, housing, and education services to East Africans across Minnesota. The defendant used the nonprofit to enroll multiple food sites. In 2021, Ayan was awarded the “Outstanding Refugee” Entrepreneur award from the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Ayan and co-conspirators allegedly used millions of dollars for personal use, including approximately $1.5 million to purchase a 37-acre property in Lakeville, Minnesota, and $100,000 to purchase a Magnus airplane set to be delivered to Nairobi, Kenya.

59. Sade Osman Hashi, 45, of Minneapolis, was the principal of Great Lakes Inc. and Safari Express, entities which he enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. As alleged, between September 2020 through 2022, Hashi falsely claimed to be serving as many as 2,500 meals each day to needy children at his site in the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. In total, Hashi fraudulently received approximately $5.7 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Hashi also paid more than $150,000 in kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee. Hashi used some of the funds to make cash withdrawals and converted approximately $133,000 to cryptocurrency. Hashi is charged with four counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, three counts of federal programs bribery, and one count of money laundering.

60. Sharon Ross, executive director of House of Refuge Outreach, a nonprofit organization in St. Paul. “Ross admitted to sending the government inflated meal counts, fake child attendance records, fake invoices, and receiving $2.4 million in federal dollars. She admitted to using the money on vacations to Las Vegas, vacations to Florida, a suite at a Minnesota Timberwolves game, and spending $100,000 of the money to buy a home in Willernie, Minnesota. Ross also admitted giving the money to Hanna Marakegn, her business partner in the scheme, and her family members.”

The following individuals were charged on January 24, 2024:

61. Said Ereg, 45, was the owner and operator of Evergreen Grocery and Deli, a for-profit grocery and deli in south Minneapolis. Ereg’s wife, Najmo Ahmed, 34, worked for Evergreen Grocery and Deli. Evergreen Grocery and Deli was enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. As alleged, in April 2020 and April 2021, Evergreen Grocery and Deli fraudulently claimed to have served over 1.4 million meals to children and received more than $4.2 million in payments from Feeding Our Future for purportedly serving meals. Ereg and Ahmed transferred most of the money to fund their own lifestyles, including making purchases from Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Canada Goose. Ereg and Ahmed also transferred more than $2.5 million to foreign accounts controlled by foreign companies. As part of the scheme, Ereg and Ahmed also paid more than $100,000 in kickbacks to Abdikerm Eidleh, a Feeding Our Future employee. Ereg and Ahmed are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering

62. Najmo Ahemd, 34, wife of Said Ereg, who allegedly participated in the scheme with him.

63. Ikram Yusuf Mohamed,  41, of Minneapolis, worked as a consultant for Feeding Our Future. Ikram Mohamed opened several food sites that were enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. To conceal her involvement, she put the sites and entities in the name of family members, including her husband, mother, and siblings. Ikram Mohamed also solicited and received kickbacks from individuals and companies involved in the program. Ikram Mohamed registered IM Consultation LLC with the Minnesota Secretary of State on or about March 10, 2021. She used IM Consultation to receive and launder kickback payments and fraud proceeds. Ikram Mohamed is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.

64. Suleman Yusuf Mohamed, 39, Ikram Mohamed’s brother, was the owner of Star Distribution LLC, which purported to be a food distribution business in Minneapolis. Star Distribution purported to be in the business of providing meals to be served at the Federal Child Nutrition Program site run by Suleman Mohamed’s family members and co-defendants. As alleged, from February 2021 through April 2022, Star Distribution received approximately $10 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds, including more than $4.9 million from Feeding Our Future, $1.6 million from United Youth of Mpls, and $1 million from Inspiring Youth & Outreach. As part of the scheme, Suleman Mohamed also paid more than $330,000 in kickbacks to Ikram Mohamed’s IM Consultation. Suleman Mohamed is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.

65. Aisha Hassan Hussein, 71, is the sister of Ikram Mohamed and the principal of United Youth of MPLS LLC. Aisha’s company allegedly received $2.1 million in food aid dollars, and she reportedly paid $166,000 in kickbacks to Ikram in exchange for enrollment with the program.

66. Sahra Sharif Osman, 41, principal of Youth International Club LLC, which allegedly operated two food sites under Feeding Our Future and received more than $1.4 million in federal food-aid dollars. Sahra reportedly paid a $7,500 kickback to Ikram Mohamed in exchange for enrollment in the federal Child Nutrition Program.

67. Shakur Abdinur Abdisalam, 45, husband of Ikram Mohamed and owner of Inspiring Youth and Out Reach LLC. Shakur’s company allegedly received more than $1.5 million in federal food aid dollars, and he reportedly paid a $21,000 kickback to his wife’s consulting company in exchange for enrollment in the Child Nutrition Program.

68. Fadumo Mohamed Yusuf, 57, mother of Ikram Mohamed and owner of Active Mind’s Youth LLC, which allegedly received more than $1 million in federal food-aid dollars. Fadumo reportedly paid $166,000 in kickbacks to her daughter in exchange for enrollment in the Child Nutrition Program.

69. Gandi Yusuf Mohamed, 43, Ikram Mohamed’s brother, was the owner of GAK Properties LLC and GIF Properties LLC, companies used to receive and launder the proceeds of the fraud scheme. Gandi Mohamed also submitted fraudulent meal counts and claims on behalf of his family’s companies. As alleged, between March 2021 and July 2022, Gandi Mohamed fraudulently received and laundered more than $1.1 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Gandi Mohamed is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.

The following individual was charged on February 1, 2024:

70. Hoda Ali Abdi, 53, owned Alif Halal LLC (“Alif Halal”), a grocery store located in Burnsville, where she enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. As alleged, Abdi fraudulently claimed to have provided approximately $3 million worth of food for children through other co-conspirator’s sites. Abdi also falsely claimed to have served more than 242,000 meals to children at her Burnsville site and received approximately $243,268 in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Abdi is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Attorney General Keith Ellison is pursuing legal action to dissolve nearly two dozen nonprofits allegedly involved in the federal food-aid fraud scandal. These nonprofits are accused of misusing bank records and failing to adhere to state and federal reporting guidelines.

The 23 nonprofits under scrutiny include:

1. Academy for Youth Excellence
2. Advanced Youth Athletic Development
3. African Chamber of Commerce Education
4. Bet On Better Future
5. Community Enhancement Services Inc.
6. Gedo Community Services
7. Hobyo Health Care Foundation
8. Hope Academy for Youth & Women Empowerment
9. Minnesota African Chamber of Commerce
10. Minnesota’s Somali Community
11. Multiple Community Services, MCS
12. Optimum Community Services
13. Serving Younger Generation
14. Somali American Faribault Education
15. South West Metro Youth
16. Stigma-Free International
17. The Free Minded Institute
18. United Enrichment with Heart
19. Unity Social Service
20. Urban Advantage Services
21. Xogmaal Media Group and Xogmaal Services
22. Youth Higher Educational Achievement
23. Youth Inventor’s Lab

These organizations are alleged to have played a role in the misuse of federal funds meant for feeding underserved children, further exacerbating the severity of the situation and prompting legal action to hold them accountable.

Media Silence

In the shadow of this staggering scandal, one question looms large: Why the deafening silence from the media? With a story of this magnitude involving prominent figures, widespread fraud, and the exploitation of essential aid meant for the most vulnerable, the lack of comprehensive coverage is deeply concerning. Could it be that the narrative doesn’t fit the agenda of most media outlets? Is it possible that the ties of those involved to influential Democrat political circles, alongside the broader political landscape, have contributed to this glaring absence of scrutiny?

As the open borders crisis continues to unfold in America, encouraged and facilitated by some left-wing political factions, one cannot help but wonder: Would the media response be the same if the perpetrators were conservative Americans tied to the Republican Party in a red state? The discrepancy in coverage raises troubling questions about media integrity, bias, and the prioritization of narratives over truth. In a society where the press is supposed to serve as a watchdog, holding power to account, the silence surrounding this scandal is a stark reminder of journalism’s lack of vigilance and impartiality in today’s climate. It underscores the imperative for citizens to demand transparency, accountability, and equal scrutiny regardless of political affiliation. The true measure of a free press lies not in what it reports but in what it chooses to ignore.

This article has been cross-posted with permission from The RAIR Foundation.