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 on June 26 in Somalia and extradited back to the U.S.on 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."MINNESOTA MAN CAPTURED IN SOMALIA AFTER ALLEGEDLY HELPING ORCHESTRATE $250M CHILD NUTRITION FRAUD SCHEMEFederal authorities allege Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh helped orchestrate a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federal child nutrition program in Minnesota.
Eidleh was brought back to the United States following his arrest last month in Somalia.(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.MINNESOTA FRAUD MASTERMIND GETS NEARLY 42 YEARS IN PRISON IN MASSIVE $250M 'FEEDING OUR FUTURE' SCHEMEFBI agents raided the offices of Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future after accusations the group's partner...