The first trial in the sprawling Feeding Our Future child nutrition fraud case began April 22, and is expected to last six to eight weeks.
Most of the defendants in the case are affiliated with Empire Cuisine and Market, a now-defunct Shakopee grocery and deli. The seven defendants allegedly pocketed $40 million in federal money designated to feed needy children. They allegedly spent the money on a Tesla, Porche, and a mosque in Kentucky, among other purchases.
The case is part of a much larger investigation into the alleged theft of $250 million from the federal Child Nutrition Program. A total of 70 defendants, most of them from Minnesota, are charged in the case; 18 have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
Read the latest stories on the first Feeding Our Future trial.
‘Kids were taken advantage of’: Bloomington schools staffer says she was tricked in food-aid fraud
Defense attorneys question Feeding Our Future employee’s credibility, motive for cooperating with authorities
Former Feeding Our Future employee details ‘chaos,’ large-scale fraud that earned suspects millions
Witnesses in Feeding Our Future trial saw few to no meals served to needy children
FBI’s thoroughness questioned in Feeding Our Future trial as defense attempts to cast doubt
Defense attorney homes in on FBI’s disparate treatment of sponsors in Feeding Our Future trial
Who’s on trial?
The defendants on trial are facing a total of 41 charges, including wire fraud, bribery and money laundering. They mostly worked for businesses that used Partners in Quality Care as a sponsor.
The defendants are:
- Abdiaziz Farah co-owned Empire Cuisine and Market. Federal prosecutors allege that the Shakopee-based deli and grocery store posed as a meals provider for several food sites, and defrauded the government out of $28 million. Abdiaziz allegedly pocketed more than $8 million for himself. He is also charged with lying on an application to renew his passport after federal agents seized his passport as part of their investigation.
- Mohamed Jama Ismail co-owned Empire Cuisine and Market. Mohamed is Abdiziz’s uncle. He is also owner of MZ Market LLC, which prosecutors allege was a shell company used to launder the stolen money. Mohamed allegedly pocketed $2.2 million. He previously pleaded guilty to passport fraud.
- Abdimajid Nur allegedly created a shell company, Nur Consulting, and laundered stolen money from Empire Cuisine and ThinkTechAct, other alleged shell companies. Abdimajid, who was 21 at the time of his indictment, allegedly pocketed $900,000.
- Hayat Nur allegedly submitted fake meal counts and invoices served at food sites. Court documents identify Hayat as Abdimajid’s sister. Hayat allegedly pocketed $30,000.
- Said Farah co-owned Bushra Wholesalers, which allegedly laundered money by claiming to be a food vendor that provided meals to food sites that then reportedly served children. Court documents identify Said as Abdiaziz’s brother. Said allegedly pocketed more than $1 million.
- Abdiwahab Aftin co-owned Bushra Wholesalers, and allegedly pocketed $435,000.
- Mukhtar Shariff served as CEO of Afrique Hospitality Group, and allegedly used the company to launder stolen money. He allegedly pocketed more than $1.3 million.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FEEDING OUR FUTURE
MORE STORIES ON FEEDING OUR FUTURE
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