Two more defendants plead guilty in Minnesota Feeding Our Future fraud scheme as convictions hit 65

Two more defendants have pleaded guilty in the massive Feeding Our Future fraud scandal, a case that has now resulted in 65 convictions as federal authorities continue to unravel what prosecutors describe as one of the largest COVID-era fraud operations in the country.

Suleman Yusuf Mohamed and his brother, Gandi Yusuf Mohamed, admitted to their roles in siphoning millions from a federally funded child nutrition program that was meant to feed children during the pandemic.

Suleman Mohamed pleaded guilty on April 2 to wire fraud after operating Star Distribution, a company that was supposed to supply meals to program sites under the nonprofit Feeding Our Future. Instead, prosecutors say the operation was largely a front. Despite receiving roughly $10.1 million in taxpayer funds for more than 4.8 million meals, Star Distribution spent only a fraction of that money on actual food. Authorities say Mohamed diverted the bulk of the funds to personal expenses and funneled millions to others involved in the scheme, including his own siblings.

As part of his plea agreement, Mohamed will pay more than $8.6 million in restitution. His brother, Gandi Yusuf Mohamed, pleaded guilty to money laundering on April 9. Through his real estate companies, GAK Properties LLC and GIF Properties LLC, he owned multiple buildings that were supposedly used as meal distribution sites. Prosecutors said those sites existed largely on paper. Instead, Gandi Mohamed used his businesses to move and conceal approximately $1.3 million in fraud proceeds. He has agreed to repay that amount. Sentencing for both men will be scheduled at a later date.

The guilty pleas come as another participant in the broader scheme was sentenced in Minneapolis. Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 65, was handed a 43-month prison sentence and ordered to pay $866,458 in restitution for his role in the fraud, which authorities say ultimately totaled around $250 million. Jesow claimed to operate a meal distribution site out of Benadir Hall, an event space on Lake Street, under a nonprofit called Academy for Youth Excellence. The organization reported serving more than 1.7 million meals between December 2020 and September 2021. In reality, prosecutors say only a fraction of those meals were ever provided.

Based on the inflated claims, the nonprofit and its alleged food vendor received more than $4.2 million in federal funds. Instead of feeding children, Jesow used the money for personal expenses, including purchasing a home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.

The latest developments come just days after the Department of Justice announced the formation of its new National Fraud Enforcement Division, aimed at cracking down on large-scale fraud involving taxpayer dollars. Federal officials say the effort will focus in part on schemes like Feeding Our Future, which exploited pandemic-era relief programs intended to help vulnerable Americans.