Minneapolis (Hornpost) Federal prosecutors in the United States announced in September 2022 criminal charges against 47 individuals accused of stealing nearly $250 million from a federal food aid program intended to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, that number has since grown, with nearly 100 people allegedly involved in the fraud, the majority of whom are of Somali descent.
In August 2025, Abdicasiis Farah, one of the main perpetrators, was sentenced to 28 years in prison. He and his group fraudulently obtained and misused over $40 million from the Child Nutrition Program, which is federally funded.
Ahmednaaji Sheikh became the 74th defendant to be charged in this case. He is accused of helping Farah invest stolen funds in a construction company operating in Kenya, as well as facilitating the purchase of property in Nairobi and Mandera.
According to court documents, in July 2021, Farah texted Ahmednaaji saying:
“You will become the richest 25-year-old ever.”
He also sent a photo in August 2021 showing $138,000 in cash.
In August 2025, three more individuals pleaded guilty to their roles in the fraud:
Mahad Ibrahim, 46 years old
Hamdi Hussein Omar, 29 years old
Hibo Salah Daar, 51 years old
All three appeared in federal court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled later.
The organization at the center of the scandal, Feeding Our Future, opened over 250 sites across Minnesota, falsely claiming to provide meals for children. They fraudulently obtained and distributed more than $240 million from the U.S. government’s child nutrition fund.
The stolen funds were used to purchase luxury vehicles, homes, and commercial properties in Minnesota, Ohio, Kentucky, as well as assets in Kenya and Turkey, and to finance international travel.
The program was led by Aimee Bock, the founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future, along with Salim Said, a Somali man also found guilty.
“Aimee Bock and Salim Said exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to carry out an elaborate fraud scheme,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
“They falsely claimed to have served 91 million meals, fraudulently receiving nearly $250 million in federal funds. That money did not feed children—it funded a life of luxury.”
Most recently, Muna Waceys Fidhin, a 44-year-old woman, was charged with ten counts, including:
3 counts of wire fraud
4 counts of federal program bribery
3 counts of money laundering
She became the 75th person charged in this historic fraud case. She was arrested in September 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson stated:
“With the 75th defendant now charged in the Feeding Our Future fraud case, the message is clear.”
“This is one of the largest frauds involving pandemic relief funds. If you are involved in any way, contact the FBI now. Legal action will be taken against you, but cooperating early may result in a better outcome than waiting until we knock on your door.”
Before the pandemic, Feeding Our Future was a small nonprofit organization supporting community childcare centers and after school programs participating in the federal food program. But starting around April 2020, they drastically increased both the number of sponsored sites and the amount of federal funding they were distributing.
In 2019, the organization distributed about $3.4 million, but by 2021, that figure had jumped to nearly $200 million.
Hornpost staff Reporter
