Fugitive Accused in $250 Million Minnesota Child Nutrition Fraud Scheme Apprehended in Somalia

A man accused of helping to orchestrate a quarter-billion-dollar fraud scheme in Minnesota, which exploited a federal child nutrition program, was captured this week in Somalia. The arrest follows a nearly four-year international pursuit by federal authorities.

Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, from Burnsville, Minnesota, was apprehended on Thursday in Mogadishu, Somalia, according to an announcement from the Justice Department.

Prosecutors have identified Eidleh as one of the key figures behind the "Feeding Our Future" fraud. Authorities have characterized this case as among the most substantial fraud investigations in Minnesota's history.

Allegations in the Extensive Fraud Scheme

Eidleh was formally charged in connection with the elaborate scheme on September 13, 2022. He faces a total of 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.

According to court documents, Eidleh, while employed by Feeding Our Future, was responsible for recruiting and providing support to Federal Child Nutrition Program sites operating under the organization's sponsorship. Prosecutors allege that Eidleh, along with others involved in the scheme, solicited and accepted bribes and kickbacks from individuals and entities seeking approval to operate fraudulent sites within the Federal Child Nutrition Program.

The indictment describes Feeding Our Future as operating a "pay-to-play" system. Under this arrangement, operators of illegitimate meal sites allegedly returned a portion of their ill-gotten gains to employees, including Eidleh. These payments were often disguised as consulting fees and channeled through shell companies.

The indictment further claims that Eidleh established Federal Child Nutrition Program sites using nominee owners and then falsely asserted that these sites were providing meals to thousands of children daily. Prosecutors also allege he created shell companies that posed as meal vendors for these sites, subsequently submitting fraudulent invoices to obtain federal nutrition program funds. To obscure the origins of the money, Eidleh is accused of depositing over $5 million in fraud proceeds, kickbacks, and bribes into accounts linked to these shell companies.

Official Statements on the Capture

"This defendant was a central figure in one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history," stated Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division. "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."