Bongino praises DOJ after fraud fugitive captured in Somalia
Fox News contributor Dan Bongino weighed in on the Justice Department’s capture of a Minnesota man in Somalia who is accused in a sweeping $250 million pandemic-era fraud case. Bongino said financial crime investigations can be especially difficult because they often involve vast amounts of banking records, transactions and supporting data. He also called for legislative changes aimed at stopping future government fraud, arguing that federal aid programs need tougher verification requirements before taxpayer money is distributed.
A man described by authorities as one of the alleged leaders of Minnesota’s sprawling Feeding Our Future pandemic relief fraud scheme has been returned to the United States to face federal charges.
Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota, was arrested June 26 in Somalia and extradited to the U.S. on Thursday, according to the FBI.
Federal prosecutors say Eidleh helped mastermind a scheme that defrauded taxpayers of $250 million by abusing federal child nutrition programs designed to provide meals to vulnerable children. Officials have called the case one of the largest fraud investigations in Minnesota history.
“Today is a historic moment in the FBI’s war on fraud,” FBI Director Kash Patel said. “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 SCHEME
Federal authorities say Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh played a key role in a $250 million fraud scheme that targeted a federal child nutrition program in Minnesota. He was returned to the United States after being arrested last month in Somalia. (Getty Images; FBI)
Eidleh is charged in a 31-count case that includes allegations of 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’ SCHEME
FBI agents raided the offices of Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future after accusations the group’s partners defrauded the federal government of millions of dollars, evidence of the raid is seen in the offices on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in St. Anthony, Minn. (Shari L. Gross/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
He and other FOF employees allegedly solicited and received bribes and kickbacks from people and companies seeking approval to operate fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program sites.
Feeding Our Future allegedly operated a “pay-to-play” scheme in which operators of fraudulent meal sites kicked back a portion of their illicit proceeds to employees, including Eidleh, often disguising the payments as consulting fees through shell companies, according to an indictment previously reported by INC News.
FBI raid Twin Cities nonprofit Feeding our Future, in St. Anthony, Minn., on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Prosecutors also said Eidleh created Federal Child Nutrition Program sites using nominee owners, then falsely claimed the sites were serving meals to thousands of children each day.
FBI CAPTURES $1.2B MEDICARE FRAUD FUGITIVE IN PHILIPPINES, SECOND ARREST FROM MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS LIST
“These are individuals who stole critical, taxpayer-funded resources from kids in need during the COVID pandemic—and Eidleh was allegedly right at the top of the operation,” Patel said.
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.
In 2022, Eidleh fled the U.S., Patel said, noting that criminals should be aware that “no matter where you try to hide, we will find you.”
In May, Aimee Bock, who headed the Feeding Our Future nonprofit, was sentenced to nearly 42 years in prison for her role in the fraud.
