Wednesday September 21, 2022
The
following defendants are named in the United States v. Aimee Marie
Bock, et al. indictment:
·
Aimee Marie Bock, 41,
of Apple Valley, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs
bribery. Bock was the founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future.
Bock oversaw the $240 million fraud scheme carried out by sites under Feeding
Our Future’s sponsorship.
·
Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 39,
of Burnsville, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire
fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery,
conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Eidleh was an
employee of Feeding Our Future who solicited and received bribes and kickbacks
from individuals and sites under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. Eidleh
also created his own fraudulent sites.
·
Salim Ahmed Said, 33,
of Plymouth, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire
fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery,
conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Said was an owner
and operator of Safari Restaurant, a site that received more than $16 million
in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Abdulkadir Nur Salah, 36,
of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire
fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal
programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.
Abdulkadir Salah was an owner and operator of Safari Restaurant, a site that
received more than $16 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program
funds.
·
Ahmed Sharif Omar-Hashim, 39,
of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs
bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.
Omar-Hashim created a company called Olive Management Inc., a site that
received approximately $5 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program
funds.
·
Abdi Nur Salah, 34,
of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Abdi
Salah registered Stigma-Free International, a non-profit entity used to carry
out the scheme with sites throughout Minnesota, including in Willmar, Mankato,
St. Cloud, Waite Park, and St. Paul.
·
Abdihakim Ali Ahmed, 36,
of Apple Valley, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs
bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Abdihakim
Ahmed created ASA Limited LLC, a site that received approximately $5 million in
fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Ahmed Mohamed Artan, 37,
of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit
money laundering, and money laundering. Artan registered Stigma-Free
International, a non-profit entity used to carry out the scheme with sites
throughout Minnesota, including in Willmar, Mankato, St. Cloud, Waite Park, and
St. Paul.
·
Abdikadir Ainanshe Mohamud, 30,
of Fridley, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire
fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery,
conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Mohamud ran the
Stigma-Free Willmar site. This site claimed to have served approximately 1.6 million
meals and received more than $4 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition
Program funds.
·
Abdinasir Mahamed Abshir, 30,
of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs
bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Abdinasir
Abshir ran the Stigma-Free Mankato site. This site claimed to have served more
than 1.6 million meals and received approximately $5 million in fraudulent
Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Asad Mohamed Abshir, 32,
of Mankato, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire
fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Asad Abshir
ran the Stigma-Free Mankato site. This site claimed to have served more than
1.6 million meals and received approximately $5 million in fraudulent Federal
Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Hamdi Hussein Omar, 26,
of St. Paul, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud,
and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Omar ran the Stigma-Free Waite Park
site. This site claimed to have served more than 500,000 meals and received
more than $1 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Ahmed Abdullahi Ghedi, 32,
of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering,
and money laundering. Ghedi created ASA Limited LLC, a site that received
approximately $5 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Abdirahman Mohamud Ahmed, 54,
of Columbus, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and
money laundering. Abdirahman Ahmed was an owner and operator of
Safari Restaurant, a site that received more than $16 million in fraudulent
Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
The
following defendants are named in the United States v. Abdiaziz Shafii
Farah, et al. indictment:
·
Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, 33,
of Savage, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire
fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery,
conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, and false statements
in a passport application. Abdiaziz Farah was an owner and operator of Empire
Cuisine and Market LLC, a for-profit restaurant that participated in the scheme
as a site, as a vendor for other sites, and as an entity to launder fraudulent
proceeds. Empire Cuisine and Market and other affiliated sites received more
than $28 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Mohamed Jama Ismail, 49,
of Savage, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire
fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Ismail was
an owner and operator of Empire Cuisine and Market LLC, a for-profit restaurant
that participated in the scheme as a site, as a vendor for other sites, and as
an entity to launder fraudulent proceeds. Empire Cuisine and Market and other
affiliated sites received more than $28 million in fraudulent Federal Child
Nutrition Program funds.
·
Mahad Ibrahim, 46,
of Lewis Center, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire
fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Ibrahim was
the president and owner of ThinkTechAct Foundation, a Minnesota non-profit
organization that also operated under the name Mind Foundry Learning
Foundation. ThinkTechAct and Mind Foundry created dozens of sites throughout
Minnesota, including in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Burnsville,
Faribault, Owatonna, Shakopee, Circle Pines, and Willmar. ThinkTechAct received
more than $18 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, 21,
of Shakopee, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire
fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Abdimajid
Nur created Nur Consulting LLC to receive and launder Federal Child Nutrition
Program funds from Empire Cuisine and Market, ThinkTechAct, and other entities
involved in the scheme.
·
Said Shafii Farah, 40,
of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs
bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Said
Farah, the brother of Abdiaziz Farah, was an owner of Bushra Wholesalers LLC, a
shell company used to launder fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin, 32,
of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Aftin was an owner
of Bushra Wholesalers LLC, a shell company used to launder fraudulent Federal
Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, 31,
of Bloomington, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs
bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Shariff
was the chief executive officer of Afrique Hospitality Group, a shell company
used to fraudulent obtain and launder Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Hayat Mohamed Nur, 25,
of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, and money laundering. Hayat Nur, the sister of Abdimajid Nur,
participated in the scheme by creating and submitting fraudulent meal count
sheets, attendance rosters, and invoices.
The
following defendants are named in the United States v. Qamar Ahmed
Hassan, et al. indictment:
·
Qamar Ahmed Hassan, 53,
of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money
laundering. Hassan was the owner and operator of S & S Catering Inc., a
for-profit restaurant and catering business that participated in the scheme as
a distribution site and as a vendor for other sites. S & S Catering
received more than $18 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program
funds.
·
Sahra Mohamed Nur, 61,
of Saint Anthony, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to wire fraud, wire
fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Nur ran a
site called Academy For Youth Excellence that used S & S Catering as a
vendor.
·
Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud, 32,
of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.
Mohamud ran a site called Academy For Youth Excellence that used S & S
Catering as a vendor.
·
Filsan Mumin Hassan, 28,
of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Hassan
ran a site called Youth Higher Educational Achievement that falsely claimed to
serve up to 4,300 meals a day.
·
Guhaad Hashi Said, 46,
of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Hashi ran a site under
the name Advance Youth Athletic Development that falsely claimed to serve up to
5,000 meals a day.
·
Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 62,
of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire
fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.
Jesow ran a site called Academy For Youth Excellence that used S & S
Catering as a vendor.
·
Abdul Abubakar Ali, 40,
of St. Paul, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire
fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Abdul Ali ran a site called
Youth Inventors Lab that falsely claimed to have served a total of
approximately 1.5 million meals in a seven-month period.
·
Yusuf Bashir Ali, 40,
of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Yusuf Ali ran a site
called Youth Inventors Lab that falsely claimed to have served a total of
approximately 1.5 million meals in a seven-month period.
The
following defendants are named in the United States v. Haji Osman
Salad, et al. indictment:
·
Haji Osman Salad, 32,
of St. Anthony, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit
money laundering, and money laundering. Salad was the principal of Haji’s
Kitchen and received approximately $11.6 million in fraudulent Federal Child
Nutrition Program funds.
·
Fahad Nur, 38, of Minneapolis,
Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering,
and money laundering. Nur was the principal of The Produce LLC, a vendor and
purported food supplier who received more than $5 million in fraudulent Federal
Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Anab Artan Awad, 52,
of Plymouth, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money
laundering, and money laundering. Awad was the president of Multiple Community
Services, MCA. Awad claimed more than $11 million in fraudulent Federal Child
Nutrition Program funds.
·
Sharmarke Issa, 40,
of Edina, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money
laundering, and money laundering. Issa created a company called Minnesota’s
Somali Community and was the manager of Wacan Restaurant LLC. Issa fraudulently
caused MDE to pay out more than $7.4 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program
funds.
·
Farhiya Mohamud, 63,
of Bloomington, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit money
laundering, and money laundering. Mohamud was the principal and CEO of Dua
Supplies and Distribution Inc., a shell company that laundered millions of
dollars of fraudulently obtained Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
The
following defendants are named in the United States v. Liban Yasin
Alishire, et al. indictment:
·
Liban Yasin Alishire, 42,
of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs
bribery, and money laundering. Alishire was the president and owner of
Community Enhancement Services, Inc., a company located in the JigJiga Business
Center in Minneapolis. Community Enhancement Services was a cultural mall owned
and operated by Alishire and co-defendant Khadar Jigre Adan. Community
Enhancement Services received more than $1.6 million in fraudulent Federal
Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Ahmed Yasin Ali, 57,
of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
wire fraud, and money laundering. Ali created a second program site, run by
Lake Street Kitchen, and located in the JigJiga Business Center in Minneapolis.
·
Khadar Jigre Adan, 59,
of Lakeville, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire
fraud, and money laundering. Adan was the CEO of Lake Street Kitchen, which was
a program site located in the JigJiga Business Center in Minneapolis.
The
following defendants are named in the United States v. Sharmake Jama,
et al. indictment:
·
Sharmake Jama, 34,
of Rochester, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, federal programs bribery,
conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Sharmake Jama was
a principal of Brava Restaurant and Café LLC. Brava Restaurant received
approximately $4.3 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
·
Ayan Jama, 43, of Rochester,
Minnesota is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering,
and money laundering. Ayan Jama was a principal of Brava Restaurant and Café
LLC. Ayan Jama also created shell companies to launder fraudulent proceeds.
·
Asha Jama, 39, of Lakeville,
Minnesota is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money
laundering. Asha Jama worked for Brava Restaurant and created shell companies
to launder fraudulent proceeds.
·
Fartun Jama, 35, of Rosemount,
Minnesota is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money
laundering. Fartun Jama worked for Brava Restaurant and created shell companies
to launder fraudulent proceeds.
·
Mustafa Jama, 45, of Rochester,
Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money
laundering. Mustafa Jama worked for Brava Restaurant and created shell
companies to launder fraudulent proceeds.
·
Zamzam Jama, 48, of Rochester,
Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money
laundering. Zamzam Jama worked for Brava Restaurant and created shell companies
to launder fraudulent proceeds.
Criminal
informations:
·
Bekam Addissu Merdassa, 39,
of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, is charged with one count of conspiracy to
commit wire fraud.
·
Hadith Yusuf Ahmed, 34,
of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit
wire fraud.
Hanna Marekegn, 40, of Edina, Minnesota,
is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.