Minnesota man captured in Somalia after allegedly helping orchestrate $250M child nutrition fraud scheme

A fugitive accused of helping orchestrate a $250 cardinal Minnesota fraud strategy that exploited a national kid nutrition programme was captured this week successful Somalia aft astir 4 years connected the run, national authorities said.

Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota, was taken into custody Thursday successful Mogadishu, Somalia, according to the Justice Department.

Prosecutors allege Eidleh was 1 of the architects of the "Feeding Our Future" fraud scheme, which authorities person described arsenic 1 of the largest fraud cases successful Minnesota history.

Eidleh was charged successful transportation with the strategy connected Sept. 13, 2022.

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Federal authorities allege Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh helped orchestrate a $250 cardinal fraud strategy that exploited a national kid nutrition programme successful Minnesota. (Getty Images; FBI)

He faces 31 counts, including conspiracy to perpetrate ligament fraud, ligament fraud, conspiracy to perpetrate national programs bribery, national programs bribery, conspiracy to perpetrate wealth laundering and wealth laundering.

"This suspect was a cardinal fig successful 1 of the largest fraud schemes successful Minnesota history," Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division said successful a statement.

"He not lone stole payer dollars, but helium besides robbed susceptible children of captious resources they desperately needed," McDonald continued. "Rather than reply for his crimes successful the United States, helium fled to Somalia successful a futile effort to evade justice. That effort ended acknowledgment to the exceptional enactment of our FBI partners."

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Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, was arrested successful Somalia aft authorities said helium spent astir 4 years arsenic a fugitive successful the sprawling Feeding Our Future fraud case. (FBI)

According to tribunal documents, Eidleh was liable for recruiting and supporting Federal Child Nutrition Program sites nether the program's sponsorship portion moving arsenic an worker of Feeding Our Future.

Prosecutors allege Eidleh, on with different members of the scheme, solicited and received bribes and kickbacks from individuals and companies seeking support to run fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program sites.

According to the indictment, Feeding Our Future operated a "pay-to-play" strategy successful which operators of fraudulent repast sites kicked backmost a information of their illicit proceeds to employees, including Eidleh, often disguising the payments arsenic consulting fees done ammunition companies.

The indictment further alleges Eidleh created Federal Child Nutrition Program sites utilizing nominee owners, past falsely claimed the sites were serving meals to thousands of children each day.

Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division Colin McDonald addresses media to denote actions for combating fraud successful Minnesota astatine the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota connected May 21, 2026 successful Minneapolis, Minnesota.  (David Berding/Getty Images)

Prosecutors allege helium besides created ammunition companies posing arsenic repast vendors for those sites and submitted fraudulent invoices to get national nutrition programme funds.

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According to prosecutors, Eidleh deposited much than $5 cardinal successful fraud proceeds, kickbacks and bribes into accounts associated with ammunition companies successful an effort to conceal the root of the money.