MINNEAPOLIS, MN — In a major development in the ongoing Feeding Our Future investigation, Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 65, has become the 56th defendant to plead guilty in the sweeping $250 million fraud scheme targeting federal child nutrition programs.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson, who acknowledged the tireless efforts of prosecutors and law enforcement, while also expressing dismay at the breach of public trust. “I am proud of the extraordinary work of our prosecutors, federal agents, and law enforcement partners who are working around the clock to expose these crimes. But the truth is they should not have to. Minnesota deserves better,” Thompson said.
Jesow admitted in court to money laundering, pleading guilty before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel. He was part of S&S Catering, a shell group that falsely claimed to be operating food distribution sites in Minneapolis during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group fraudulently reported serving 5,000 meals per day, seven days a week, to children in need. However, investigators found these figures to be grossly exaggerated. The defendants submitted fake meal counts, attendance rosters, and invoices to siphon off over $17.4 million in federal funds.
Jesow’s supposed organization, the Academy For Youth Excellence, claimed it served 1.7 million meals between December 2020 and September 2021. In reality, only a fraction of those meals were ever provided. Authorities estimate that Jesow personally pocketed about 5% of the fraudulently obtained funds, eventually funneling most of it back to his co-conspirators.
The case is being led by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation, who continue to uncover the full scope of the fraud.
While one defendant in the case is still awaiting trial, Jesow’s plea underscores the breadth of the conspiracy and the vulnerabilities in systems designed to protect the most at-risk populations—particularly during times of crisis.
