
Friday January 31, 2025

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (HOL) — Prominent Somali journalist and media owner Mohamed Muse Noor, also known as Deeq Darajo, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme. Noor's admission comes just days before the trial of the program's former director, Aimee Bock, is set to begin.
Court documents reveal that Noor, through his affiliation with the federally-funded child nutrition program, signed fraudulent forms claiming to feed 1,500 children daily. Instead, prosecutors allege he submitted fabricated meal counts and invoices without ever visiting the sites listed under his name.
"Rather than feed children, Noor and his co-defendants took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic—and the resulting program changes—to enrich themselves by misappropriating millions of dollars in federal child nutrition funds," Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick stated.
Noor, a well-known figure in Minnesota's Somali community and owner of Xogmaal Media Group, was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare Airport in 2022 while attempting to flee to Turkey. According to investigators, Noor received approximately $1.3 million from the scheme, though Feeding Our Future employee Abdikerm Eidleh intercepted nearly all of it. Noor retained just over $52,000.
This plea marks one of several recent developments in the expansive fraud case, which federal authorities have described as the largest pandemic-related fraud in U.S. history. Two other defendants, Abdulkadir Nur Salah and Abdi Nur Salah—co-owners of Safari Restaurant—also entered guilty pleas this week. Their restaurant reportedly claimed $16 million in fraudulent reimbursements by falsely reporting the provision of 5,000 meals per day.
The trial for Bock and co-defendant Salim Said is scheduled to commence on Monday. Federal prosecutors allege that the defendants used the fraudulently obtained funds to purchase luxury vehicles, real estate, and other personal assets. Sharmake Jama, another co-defendant who operated Brava Restaurant in Rochester, admitted in court to using over $500,000 of his share of the stolen funds on property investments and a GMC Sierra truck.
The U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigations continue to pursue asset forfeiture, targeting millions in properties and bank accounts tied to the scheme. Sentencing dates for the guilty defendants have yet to be scheduled.
This unfolding case has sent shockwaves through Minnesota's Somali-American community, which has played a significant role in the investigation due to the involvement of several high-profile members. Somali leaders have expressed both outrage and concern over the long-term impact on community trust in local businesses and federally-funded programs.