Burnsville Resident Arrested In Somalia In Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

BURNSVILLE, MN — A Burnsville resident accused of playing a central role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme was arrested in Somalia last week, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, was taken into custody June 25 in Mogadishu, according to United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.

Eidleh had been charged by federal indictment on Sept. 13, 2022, on 31 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.

Court documents say Eidleh worked as a Feeding Our Future employee responsible for recruiting and supporting Federal Child Nutrition Program sites.

He and other employees solicited and accepted bribes and kickbacks from individuals and companies seeking approval to operate fraudulent meal sites, prosecutors say. The kickbacks were often disguised as "consulting fees" funneled through shell companies.

According to the indictment, Eidleh also created his own fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program sites using nominee owners and falsely claimed the sites were serving meals to thousands of children each day.

He created shell companies posing as meal vendors and submitted fraudulent invoices to obtain federal nutrition program funds.

Prosecutors say Eidleh deposited more than $5 million in kickbacks, bribes, and other fraud proceeds into accounts tied to those shell companies.

"This defendant was a central figure in one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history," said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division. "He not only stole taxpayer dollars, but he also robbed vulnerable children of critical resources they desperately needed. Rather than answer for his crimes in the United States, he fled to Somalia in a futile attempt to evade justice."

FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson credited Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency for its partnership in locating and apprehending Eidleh.

"With the apprehension of Abdikerm Eidleh, the FBI's partnerships with law enforcement worldwide again send a message, the FBI's reach is far and wide, we will track down and bring to justice any fugitive, from anywhere," Dotson said.

The case was investigated by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Austin Bowyer are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.