Minnesota Fraud Mastermind Faces Sentence Over $250 Million Scheme
Emily Compagno and the 'Outnumbered' panel discuss the COVID fraud case in Minnesota, where Aimee Bock faces sentencing over a $250 million scheme. The discussion also highlights the alleged awareness and lack of cooperation of state officials in federal investigations, prompting calls for accountability from figures such as Kayleigh McEnany and JD Vance.
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A fugitive accused of helping orchestrate a $250 million fraud scheme in Minnesota that took advantage of a federal child nutrition program was captured this week in Somalia after nearly four years on the run, federal authorities said.
Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota, was arrested Thursday in Mogadishu, Somalia, according to the Department of Justice.
Prosecutors allege Eidleh was one of the architects of the “Feeding Our Future” fraud scheme, which authorities have described as one of the largest fraud cases in Minnesota history.
Eidleh was charged in connection with the scheme on September 13, 2022.
TIMELINE OF 'LARGEST COVID-19 FRAUD SCHEME' IN THE UNITED STATES
Federal authorities allege that Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh helped orchestrate a $250 million fraud scheme that took advantage of a federal child nutrition program in Minnesota. (Getty Images; FBI)
He faces 31 charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, federal program bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering.
“This defendant was a central figure in one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history,” Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department's National Fraud Control Division said in a statement.
“Not only did he steal taxpayer money, he also robbed vulnerable children of critical resources they desperately needed,” McDonald continued. “Rather than answer for his crimes in the United States, he fled to Somalia in a futile attempt to evade justice. That attempt ended thanks to the exceptional work of our FBI partners.”
NUTRITION PROGRAM DEMAND PROMPTS MN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO FACILITATE OVERSIGHT, OPENING THE DOOR TO MORE FRAUD
Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, was arrested in Somalia after authorities said he spent nearly four years as a fugitive in the sprawling Feeding Our Future fraud case. (FBI)
According to court documents, Eidleh was responsible for recruiting and supporting Federal Child Nutrition Program sites under the program's sponsorship while working as a Feeding Our Future employee.
Prosecutors allege that Eidleh, along with other members of the scheme, solicited and received bribes and kickbacks from individuals and companies seeking approval to operate fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program sites.
According to the indictment, Feeding Our Future operated a “pay-for-play” scheme in which operators of fraudulent food sites returned a portion of their ill-gotten gains to employees, including Eidleh, often disguising the payments as consulting fees through shell companies.
The indictment further alleges that Eidleh created Federal Child Nutrition Program sites using nominated owners and then falsely claimed that the sites served meals to thousands of children each day.
National Anti-Fraud Division Deputy Attorney General Colin McDonald addresses the media to announce actions to combat fraud in Minnesota at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota on May 21, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Images)
Prosecutors allege he also created shell companies posing as food vendors for those sites and submitted fraudulent invoices to obtain funds from the federal nutrition program.
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According to prosecutors, Eidleh deposited more than $5 million in proceeds from fraud, kickbacks and bribes into accounts associated with shell companies in an effort to conceal the source of the money.
