Five More Convicted in Massive ‘Feeding Our Future’ Fraud Scheme

FBI agents, along with investigators from the IRS and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, prepare to execute one of 25 search warrants carried out in the early morning hours of January 20, 2022, as part of the Feeding Our Future fraud investigation.

Northeast Radio SD News – Minneapolis, MN - The U.S. Attorney’s Office has announced five more guilty pleas in the sprawling “Feeding Our Future” fraud investigation, bringing the total number of convictions in the case to 63.

Federal prosecutors say the latest round of guilty pleas involves a group of family members and associates who conspired to steal and launder $14.6 million in federal funds intended to feed hungry children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The defendants—Ikram Yusuf Mohamed, 42; her husband, Shakur Abdinur Abdisalam, 46; her sister, Aisha Hassan Hussein, 29; her mother, Fadumo Mohamed Yusuf, 59; and associate Sahra Sharif Osman, 43—all pleaded guilty to wire fraud this week in U.S. District Court.

A Family Affair of Fraud 

According to court documents, Ikram Yusuf Mohamed acted as a leader in the scheme while working as a consultant for Feeding Our Future. Prosecutors say she opened several food sites under the names of her family members to conceal her involvement.

The group allegedly created “Star Distribution LLC,” a shell company used to generate fraudulent invoices for food that was never purchased or delivered. Additionally, Mohamed admitted to soliciting and receiving over $1.3 million in kickbacks from other individuals involved in the program.

The details of the individual fraud claims are staggering:

·         Inspiring Youth & Outreach LLC: Run by Mohamed’s husband, the company claimed to have served more than one million meals in just nine months. Investigators found the attendance rosters were filled with fake names and ages.

·         United Youth of MPLS: Run by Mohamed’s sister, this entity claimed to have served 1.3 million meals, resulting in $2.2 million in fraudulent funds.

·         Active Mind’s Youth: Run by Mohamed’s mother, this site claimed to serve 500,000 meals in four months, netting $1 million in federal money.

“Rampant Fraud” Exposed 

U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen praised the work of federal agents in what has become one of the largest fraud investigations in the history of the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“I am proud of our team of prosecutors, federal agents, and law enforcement partners who continue to expose the rampant fraud in Minnesota,” Rosen said in a statement.

The investigation was a multi-agency effort involving the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The convictions come as the federal government ramps up efforts through the newly established “President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.”

What’s Next

The five defendants were originally scheduled to go to trial in April. With their guilty pleas now entered, Judge Nancy E. Brasel will schedule sentencing hearings at a later date.

Only one defendant remains for the scheduled April 20 trial, as another is expected to enter a plea change next week.