A federal jury in Minneapolis convicted five individuals for embezzling millions from government programs designed to feed hungry children during the pandemic. Two other defendants were acquitted in this high-profile case.
The trial lasted six weeks and concluded with a shocking revelation: one juror was dismissed after allegedly being offered a gift bag containing $120,000 in a bribe attempt for acquittals. An alternate juror replaced the dismissed juror, and another juror was also replaced after learning about the bribery attempt.
The group on trial consisted of six men and one woman, charged with multiple felonies including wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering. Ultimately, four men and one woman were convicted. The most severe charges could lead to sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
These defendants were accused of stealing over $40 million from government programs through a nonprofit organization called Feeding Our Future, based near Minneapolis. They were among 70 individuals implicated in a broader scheme to defraud federal food-aid programs in Minnesota, totaling an estimated $250 million—one of the largest fraud cases prosecuted by the Department of Justice in recent years.
Prosecutors claimed that the defendants falsely reported providing meals to children while rarely fulfilling that obligation. Instead, they allegedly used the funds for personal expenses, including cryptocurrency, luxury cars, and upscale homes. Defense attorneys contended that the defendants genuinely used the money to buy food and feed those in need, challenging the credibility of a key witness who testified against them.
The convicted individuals, all Somali immigrants aged between 23 and 51, resided in various neighborhoods around the Twin Cities. The convicted are Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, Mohamed Jama Ismail, Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, and Hayat Mohamed Nur. Abdiiwahab Maalim Aftin and Shafii Farah, who claimed to have played minor roles in the operation, were acquitted.
Following the bribery allegation, Judge Nancy Brasel of U.S. District Court ordered isolation for the remaining jurors during deliberations to prevent further issues. An investigation into the bribery attempt is ongoing, and bribing a juror is a felony offense. A federal judge also authorized the FBI to seize and examine the cellphones of all seven defendants while they awaited the jury’s verdict.