Attorneys Clayton Carlson, Ian Birrell, and Steven Schleicher flank defendant Said Shafii Farah on the first day of testimony in the Feeding Our Future trial. Farah was one of two defendants acquitted of all charges. Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer.
A jury reached a verdict on Friday in the first trial of what has been dubbed the nation’s largest pandemic relief fraud case, finding five defendants guilty while acquitting two.
The defendants faced a total of 41 charges, primarily related to wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering, in connection with claims of providing 18.8 million meals to needy children across 50 sites in Minnesota. Prosecutors accused them of fabricating invoices and submitting thousands of fictitious names to siphon off $49 million in federal funds.
Said Shafii Farah and Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin were acquitted of all charges against them, while the remaining defendants had a mix of convictions and acquittals.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson held a brief press conference following the verdict, expressing satisfaction with the outcome. “We’re pleased with the verdict. We’re proud of the trial,” he stated, asserting that it confirmed the federal government’s position that the defendants had falsified documents and exploited the pandemic for personal gain.
“This conduct was not just criminal; it was depraved and brazen,” Thompson emphasized, noting the extensive and shameless nature of the fraud.
The verdict followed a tumultuous week in court, marked by chaos during the first day of jury deliberations when it was revealed that $120,000 had been left at a juror’s home in an alleged attempt to sway her vote. The juror, along with another who learned of the bribe, was dismissed, and the remaining jurors were sequestered while the defendants were detained.
The home of one defendant, Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, whom prosecutors have identified as a ringleader, was raided in connection with the bribery investigation.
This trial is the first of 70 individuals charged in what is known as the Feeding Our Future case—a scheme in which federal prosecutors allege that approximately $250 million was stolen. To date, 18 individuals have pleaded guilty, and one has fled the country.
The trial’s outcome could influence the remaining 44 defendants awaiting trial. The acquittals may encourage some to proceed to trial, while others might seek cooperation agreements for lighter sentences.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors provided detailed evidence showing how defendants funneled money through multiple corporations, revealing that only a small fraction of the funds went toward actual food purchases. Instead, the bulk of the money was reportedly spent on luxury vehicles, extravagant vacations to the Maldives and the Middle East, and high-end real estate, including a lakefront mansion.
At the center of the scheme was Empire Cuisine & Market, a small halal restaurant and market in Shakopee, incorporated by two defendants in April 2020. The restaurant claimed to be feeding children at numerous distribution sites and received nearly $30 million in federal funds, of which approximately $3 million was spent on food—some of which appeared to be intended for the restaurant itself.
Defense attorneys contended that the defendants did distribute food, presenting photos and videos to support their claims. They argued that the state Department of Education, which managed the program, and two nonprofits—Feeding Our Future and Partners in Nutrition—failed to provide adequate guidance during the pandemic’s changing regulatory landscape.
As the U.S. Department of Agriculture relaxed its rules to facilitate food distribution to children amid school closures, prosecutors allege that defendants took advantage, submitting numerous reimbursement requests while serving little actual food.
