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One of the alleged ringleaders of the massive Feeding Our Future pandemic relief fraud scheme in Minnesota has been brought back to the United States to face charges, authorities said.
Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota, was arrested June 26 in Somalia and extradited to the U.S. Thursday, the FBI said.
Federal prosecutors allege Eidleh was the mastermind who bilked taxpayers out of $250 million by exploiting federal child nutrition programs meant to feed vulnerable children. Authorities have described it as one of the largest fraud cases in Minnesota history.
“Today is a historic moment in the FBI’s war on fraud,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The Foreign Transfer of Custody of Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh brings to justice one of the alleged ringleaders of the $250 million ‘Feeding our Future’ fraud scandal out of Minnesota, where the FBI has already helped secure over 70 guilty pleas from fraudsters in partnership with the Justice Department.”
Federal authorities allege Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh helped orchestrate a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federal child nutrition program in Minnesota. (Getty Images; FBI)
Eidleh faces 31 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering.
Federal prosecutors said Eidleh was an employee of the Feeding Our Future (FOF) nonprofit, responsible for recruiting and supporting Federal Child Nutrition Program sites under Feeding Our Future’s sponsorship.
FBI agents raided the offices of Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future in response to accusations the group’s partners defrauded the federal government of millions of dollars. Evidence of the raid is seen in offices Jan. 27, 2022, in St. Anthony, Minn. (Shari L. Gross/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
He and other FOF employees allegedly solicited and received bribes and kickbacks from people and companies seeking approval to operate fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program sites.
Feeding Our Future allegedly operated a “pay-to-play” scheme in which operators of fraudulent meal sites kicked back a portion of their illicit proceeds to employees, including Eidleh, often disguising the payments as consulting fees through shell companies, according to an indictment previously reported by Fox News Digital.
The FBI raided Twin Cities nonprofit Feeding our Future in St. Anthony, Minn., Jan. 20, 2022. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Prosecutors also said Eidleh created Federal Child Nutrition Program sites using nominee owners, then falsely claimed the sites were serving meals to thousands of children each day.
“These are individuals who stole critical, taxpayer-funded resources from kids in need during the COVID pandemic, and Eidleh was allegedly right at the top of the operation,” Patel said.
According to prosecutors, Eidleh deposited more than $5 million in fraud proceeds, kickbacks and bribes into accounts associated with shell companies he created in an effort to conceal the source of the money.
In 2022, Eidleh fled the U.S., Patel said, noting that criminals should be aware that “no matter where you try to hide, we will find you.”
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In May, Aimee Bock, who headed the Feeding Our Future nonprofit, was sentenced to nearly 42 years in prison for her role in the fraud.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
