Mekfira Hussein, a Shakopee woman, has pleaded guilty to her role in a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited the Federal Child Nutrition Program (FCNP) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota confirmed on January 3.
As president of Shamsia Hopes, a Brooklyn Center nonprofit, Hussein enrolled her organization in the FCNP in October 2020. Under the direction of Abdikerm Eidleh, and through the program’s sponsor, Feeding Our Future, led by Executive Director Aimee Bock, Hussein and her co-conspirators claimed to have served millions of meals, though only a small portion was actually provided.
Between 2020 and 2021, Shamsia Hopes falsely reported that it had served over 3.4 million meals, even though the actual number was far less. In December 2020, Hussein’s husband, Abduljabar Hussein, registered Oromia Feeds LLC as a food vendor with the State of Minnesota. The company then submitted fraudulent invoices for hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funds intended for the program.
Hussein falsely claimed that Shamsia Hopes was providing meals to up to 5,000 children daily, seven days a week. As part of the scheme, at least $5.4 million was diverted to her husband’s company, which spent little on food. The Husseins embezzled a total of $8.8 million in federal funds, using a portion of it for personal expenses, including paying off their Shakopee home and purchasing luxury vehicles—a 2021 Porsche and a 2022 GMC truck.
In addition, the Husseins paid kickbacks amounting to $140,000 to Eidleh and at least $12,000 to Bock. The guilty plea marks a significant step in holding those responsible for the fraudulent exploitation of federal resources intended to assist vulnerable communities.
