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.
Fraud Scheme Details
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.
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. He allegedly created Federal Child Nutrition Program sites using nominee owners, then falsely claimed the sites were serving meals to thousands of children each day.
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.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
