A Minnesota man accused of being a key architect in a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federal child nutrition program has been captured in Somalia after nearly four years as a fugitive. Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota, was taken into custody Thursday in Mogadishu, according to the Justice Department.
Federal authorities allege Eidleh was one of the masterminds behind the "Feeding Our Future" scheme, which has been described as one of the largest fraud cases in Minnesota history. He was charged in connection with the scheme on Sept. 13, 2022, and faces 31 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.
"This defendant was a central figure in one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history," Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division stated. "He not only stole taxpayer dollars, but he also robbed vulnerable children of critical resources they desperately needed. Rather than answer for his crimes in the United States, he fled to Somalia in a futile attempt to evade justice. That attempt ended thanks to the exceptional work of our FBI partners."
Court documents indicate that Eidleh, while employed by Feeding Our Future, was responsible for recruiting and supporting Federal Child Nutrition Program sites. Prosecutors claim he, along with other scheme participants, solicited and received bribes and kickbacks from individuals and companies seeking approval for fraudulent meal sites. According to the indictment, Feeding Our Future operated a "pay-to-play" system where operators of fake meal sites paid a portion of illicit gains to employees, including Eidleh, often disguised as consulting fees through shell companies.
Prosecutors further allege that Eidleh established Federal Child Nutrition Program sites using nominee owners and falsely reported that these sites were serving meals to thousands of children daily. He is also accused of creating shell companies that posed as meal vendors for these sites and submitting fraudulent invoices to secure federal nutrition program funds. Eidleh reportedly deposited over $5 million in fraud proceeds, kickbacks, and bribes into accounts linked to shell companies in an effort to conceal the money's origin.
