U.S. Lawyer Pronounces Federal Fees In opposition to 47 Defendants in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme | OPA

The Division of Justice introduced at this time federal prison costs towards 47 defendants for his or her alleged roles in a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded youngster vitamin program through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These indictments, alleging the biggest pandemic aid fraud scheme charged so far, underscore the Division of Justice’s sustained dedication to combating pandemic fraud and holding accountable those that perpetrate it,” mentioned Lawyer Basic Merrick B. Garland. “In partnership with companies throughout authorities, the Justice Division will proceed to carry to justice those that have exploited the pandemic for private acquire and stolen from American taxpayers.”

“In the present day’s indictments describe an egregious plot to steal public funds meant to care for kids in want in what quantities to the biggest pandemic aid fraud scheme but,” mentioned FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The defendants went to nice lengths to use a program designed to feed underserved kids in Minnesota amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, fraudulently diverting hundreds of thousands of {dollars} designated for this system for their very own private acquire. These costs ship the message that the FBI and our legislation enforcement companions stay vigilant and can vigorously pursue those that try to counterpoint themselves by way of fraudulent means.”

“This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions,” mentioned U.S. Lawyer Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota. “These defendants exploited a program designed to offer nutritious meals to needy kids through the COVID-19 pandemic. As a substitute, they prioritized their very own greed, stealing greater than 1 / 4 of a billion {dollars} in federal funds to buy luxurious automobiles, homes, jewellery, and coastal resort property overseas. I commend the work of the expert investigators and prosecutors who unraveled the lies, deception, and mountains of false documentation to carry this complicated case to gentle.”

The 47 defendants are charged throughout six separate indictments and three prison informations with costs of conspiracy, wire fraud, cash laundering, and bribery.

As outlined within the charging paperwork, the defendants devised and carried out an enormous scheme to defraud the Federal Little one Diet Program. The defendants obtained, misappropriated, and laundered hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in program funds that have been supposed as reimbursements for the price of serving meals to kids. The defendants exploited adjustments in this system supposed to make sure underserved kids obtained ample vitamin through the COVID-19 pandemic. Somewhat than feed kids, the defendants enriched themselves by fraudulently misappropriating hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in Federal Little one Diet Program funds.

The Federal Little one Diet Program, administered by the U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA), is a federally-funded program designed to offer free meals to kids in want. The USDA’s Meals and Diet Service administers this system all through the nation by distributing federal funds to state governments. In Minnesota, the Minnesota Division of Training (MDE) administers and oversees the Federal Little one Diet Program. Meals funded by the Federal Little one Diet Program are served by “websites.” Every website taking part in this system have to be sponsored by a licensed sponsoring group. Sponsors should submit an software to MDE for every website. Sponsors are additionally liable for monitoring every of their websites and getting ready reimbursement claims for his or her websites. The USDA then offers MDE federal reimbursement funds on a per-meal foundation. MDE offers these funds to the sponsoring company who, in flip, pays the reimbursements to the websites below its sponsorship. The sponsoring company retains 10 to fifteen p.c of the funds as an administrative charge.

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA waived a number of the normal necessities for participation within the Federal Little one Diet Program. Amongst different issues, the USDA allowed for-profit eating places to take part in this system, in addition to allowed for off-site meals distribution to kids exterior of academic applications.

Aimee Bock was the founder and government director of Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit group that was a sponsor taking part within the Federal Little one Diet Program. The indictments cost Bock with overseeing an enormous fraud scheme carried out by websites below Feeding Our Future’s sponsorship. Feeding Our Future went from receiving and disbursing roughly $3.4 million in federal funds in 2019 to almost $200 million in 2021.

As a part of the charged scheme, Feeding Our Future workers recruited people and entities to open Federal Little one Diet Program websites all through the state of Minnesota. These websites, created and operated by the defendants and others, fraudulently claimed to be serving meals to hundreds of youngsters a day inside simply days or even weeks of being shaped. The defendants created dozens of shell firms to enroll in this system as Federal Little one Diet Program websites. The defendants additionally created shell firms to obtain and launder the proceeds of their fraudulent scheme.

To hold out the scheme, the defendants additionally created and submitted false documentation. They submitted fraudulent meal rely sheets purporting to doc the variety of kids and meals served at every website. The defendants submitted false invoices purporting to doc the acquisition of meals to be served to kids on the websites. The defendants additionally submitted faux attendance rosters purporting to listing the names and ages of the kids receiving meals on the websites every day. These rosters have been fabricated and created utilizing faux names. For instance, one roster was created utilizing names from a web site known as “www.listofrandomnames.com.” As a result of this system solely reimbursed for meals served to kids, different defendants used an Excel system to insert a random age between seven and 17 into the age column of the rosters.

Regardless of understanding the claims have been fraudulent, Feeding Our Future submitted the fraudulent claims to MDE after which disbursed the fraudulently obtained Federal Little one Diet Program funds to the people and entities concerned within the scheme.

In alternate for sponsoring these websites’ fraudulent participation in this system, Feeding Our Future obtained greater than $18 million in administrative charges to which it was not entitled. Along with the executive charges, Feeding Our Future workers solicited and obtained bribes and kickbacks from people and corporations sponsored by Feeding Our Future. Many of those kickbacks have been paid in money or disguised as “consulting charges” paid to shell firms created by Feeding Our Future workers to make them seem official.

When MDE tried to carry out essential oversight concerning the variety of websites and quantity of claims being submitted, Bock and Feeding Our Future gave false assurances that they have been monitoring the websites below its sponsorship and that the websites have been serving the meals as claimed. When MDE workers pressed Bock for clarification, Bock accused MDE of discrimination and unfairly scrutinizing Feeding Our Future’s websites. When MDE denied Feeding Our Future website purposes, Bock and Feeding Our Future filed a lawsuit accusing MDE of denying the location purposes as a result of discrimination in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

In whole, Feeding Our Future opened greater than 250 websites all through the state of Minnesota and fraudulently obtained and disbursed greater than $240 million in Federal Little one Diet Program funds. The defendants used the proceeds of their fraudulent scheme to buy luxurious automobiles, residential and business actual property in Minnesota in addition to property in Ohio and Kentucky, actual property in Kenya and Turkey, and to fund worldwide journey.

“Exploiting a authorities program supposed to feed kids on the time of a nationwide disaster is the epitome of greed,” mentioned Particular Agent in Cost Justin Campbell of the IRS Legal Investigation, Chicago Subject Workplace. “As alleged, the defendants charged on this case selected to counterpoint themselves on the expense of youngsters. As a substitute of feeding the long run, they selected to steal from the long run. IRS – Legal Investigation is happy to hitch our legislation enforcement companions to carry these defendants accountable.”

United States v. Aimee Marie Bock, et al., 22-CR-223 (NEB/TNL), costs 14 defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal applications bribery, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering for his or her roles the Federal Little one Diet Program fraud scheme. In April 2020, Safari Restaurant enrolled within the Federal Little one Diet Program below the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. The house owners of Safari Restaurant and their co-conspirators opened extra websites all through the state of Minnesota, in addition to dozens of shell firms. Over the course of the fraud scheme, the defendants claimed to have served hundreds of thousands of meals. Based mostly on their fraudulent claims, the defendants obtained greater than $32 million in Federal Little one Diet Program funds, which they misappropriated for their very own private profit, together with expenditures corresponding to automobiles, actual property, and journey.

United States v. Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, et al., 22-CR-124 (NEB/TNL), costs eight defendants with conspiracy, wire fraud, federal applications bribery, and cash laundering for his or her roles the Federal Little one Diet Program fraud scheme. In April 2020, Empire Delicacies and Market LLC enrolled within the Federal Little one Diet Program below the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. The house owners of Empire Delicacies and Market LLC and their co-conspirators opened extra websites all through the state of Minnesota, in addition to dozens of shell firms. Over the course of the fraud scheme, the defendants claimed to have served hundreds of thousands of meals. Based mostly on their fraudulent claims, the defendants obtained greater than $40 million in Federal Little one Diet Program funds, which they misappropriated for their very own private profit, together with expenditures corresponding to automobiles, journey, actual property, and property in Kenya.

United States v. Qamar Ahmed Hassan, et al., 22-CR-224 (NEB/TNL), costs eight defendants with conspiracy, wire fraud, and cash laundering for his or her roles the Federal Little one Diet Program fraud scheme. In August 2020, S & S Catering Inc. enrolled within the Federal Little one Diet Program below the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. The proprietor of S & S Catering and different co-conspirators opened websites throughout the Twin Cities and claimed to have served hundreds of thousands of meals. Based mostly on their fraudulent claims, the defendants obtained greater than $18 million in Federal Little one Diet Program funds, which they misappropriated for their very own private profit, together with expenditures corresponding to automobiles and actual property.

United States v. Haji Osman Salad, et al., 22-CR-226 (NEB/TNL), costs 5 defendants with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering for his or her roles within the Federal Little one Diet Program fraud scheme. The proprietor of Haji’s Kitchen LLC and different co-conspirators enrolled within the Federal Little one Diet Program below the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. The co-conspirators opened websites throughout the state of Minnesota, in addition to a number of shell firms. Over the course of the fraud scheme, the defendants claimed to have served hundreds of thousands of meals. Based mostly on their fraudulent claims, the defendants obtained greater than $25 million in Federal Little one Diet Program funds, which they misappropriated for their very own private profit, together with expenditures corresponding to automobiles, actual property, and journey.

United States v. Liban Yasin Alishire, et al., 22-CR-222 (NEB/TML), costs three defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal applications, federal applications bribery, and cash laundering for his or her roles within the Federal Little one Diet Program fraud scheme. The proprietor of Group Enhancement Providers Inc. and different co-conspirators opened a number of websites and shell firms within the JigJiga Enterprise Middle in Minneapolis. Over the course of the fraud scheme, the defendants claimed to have served lots of of hundreds of meals. Based mostly on their fraudulent claims, the defendants obtained greater than $1.6 million in Federal Little one Diet Program funds, which they misappropriated for their very own private profit, together with expenditures corresponding to automobiles, actual property, and seashore property in Kenya.

United States v. Sharmake Jama, et al., 22-CR-225 (NEB/TNL), costs six defendants with wire fraud, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering for his or her roles within the Federal Little one Diet Program fraud scheme. In September 2020, Brava Restaurant & Café LLC, a website positioned in Rochester, Minnesota, enrolled within the Federal Little one Diet Program below the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. The house owners of Brava Restaurant & Café and different co-conspirators claimed to have served hundreds of thousands of meals from Brava Restaurant & Café and falsely claimed to have a contract with Rochester Public Colleges. Based mostly on their fraudulent claims, the defendants obtained roughly $4.3 million in Federal Little one Diet Program funds, which they misappropriated for their very own private profit, together with expenditures corresponding to automobiles, actual property, and property on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.

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The next defendants are named within 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 applications bribery, federal applications bribery. Bock was the founder and government director of Feeding Our Future. Bock oversaw the $240 million fraud scheme carried out by websites below 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 applications bribery, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Eidleh was an worker of Feeding Our Future who solicited and obtained bribes and kickbacks from people and websites below the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. Eidleh additionally created his personal fraudulent websites.
• Salim Ahmed Stated, 33, of Plymouth, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal applications bribery, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Stated was an proprietor and operator of Safari Restaurant, a website that obtained greater than $16 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Abdulkadir Nur Salah, 36, of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal applications bribery, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Abdulkadir Salah was an proprietor and operator of Safari Restaurant, a website that obtained greater than $16 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Ahmed Sharif Omar-Hashim, 39, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal applications bribery, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Omar-Hashim created an organization known as Olive Administration Inc., a website that obtained roughly $5 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Abdi Nur Salah, 34, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Abdi Salah registered Stigma-Free Worldwide, a non-profit entity used to hold out the scheme with websites all through Minnesota, together with 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 applications bribery, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Abdihakim Ahmed created ASA Restricted LLC, a website that obtained roughly $5 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Ahmed Mohamed Artan, 37, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Artan registered Stigma-Free Worldwide, a non-profit entity used to hold out the scheme with websites all through Minnesota, together with 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 applications bribery, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Mohamud ran the Stigma-Free Willmar website. This website claimed to have served roughly 1.6 million meals and obtained greater than $4 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Abdinasir Mahamed Abshir, 30, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal applications bribery, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Abdinasir Abshir ran the Stigma-Free Mankato website. This website claimed to have served greater than 1.6 million meals and obtained roughly $5 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Asad Mohamed Abshir, 32, of Mankato, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Asad Abshir ran the Stigma-Free Mankato website. This website claimed to have served greater than 1.6 million meals and obtained roughly $5 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Hamdi Hussein Omar, 26, of St. Paul, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit cash laundering. Omar ran the Stigma-Free Waite Park website. This website claimed to have served greater than 500,000 meals and obtained greater than $1 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Ahmed Abdullahi Ghedi, 32, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Ghedi created ASA Restricted LLC, a website that obtained roughly $5 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Abdirahman Mohamud Ahmed, 54, of Columbus, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to commit cash laundering and cash laundering. Abdirahman Ahmed was an proprietor and operator of Safari Restaurant, a website that obtained greater than $16 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.

The next defendants are named within 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 applications bribery, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, cash laundering, and false statements in a passport software. Abdiaziz Farah was an proprietor and operator of Empire Delicacies and Market LLC, a for-profit restaurant that participated within the scheme as a website, as a vendor for different websites, and as an entity to launder fraudulent proceeds. Empire Delicacies and Market and different affiliated websites obtained greater than $28 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Mohamed Jama Ismail, 49, of Savage, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Ismail was an proprietor and operator of Empire Delicacies and Market LLC, a for-profit restaurant that participated within the scheme as a website, as a vendor for different websites, and as an entity to launder fraudulent proceeds. Empire Delicacies and Market and different affiliated websites obtained greater than $28 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Mahad Ibrahim, 46, of Lewis Middle, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Ibrahim was the president and proprietor of ThinkTechAct Basis, a Minnesota non-profit group that additionally operated below the title Thoughts Foundry Studying Basis. ThinkTechAct and Thoughts Foundry created dozens of web sites all through Minnesota, together with in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Burnsville, Faribault, Owatonna, Shakopee, Circle Pines, and Willmar. ThinkTechAct obtained greater than $18 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, 21, of Shakopee, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Abdimajid Nur created Nur Consulting LLC to obtain and launder Federal Little one Diet Program funds from Empire Delicacies and Market, ThinkTechAct, and different entities concerned within the scheme.
• Stated Shafii Farah, 40, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal applications bribery, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Stated Farah, the brother of Abdiaziz Farah, was an proprietor of Bushra Wholesalers LLC, a shell firm used to launder fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin, 32, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Aftin was an proprietor of Bushra Wholesalers LLC, a shell firm used to launder fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, 31, of Bloomington, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal applications bribery, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Shariff was the chief government officer of Afrique Hospitality Group, a shell firm used to fraudulent receive and launder Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Hayat Mohamed Nur, 25, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and cash laundering. Hayat Nur, the sister of Abdimajid Nur, participated within the scheme by creating and submitting fraudulent meal rely sheets, attendance rosters, and invoices.

The next defendants are named within 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, cash laundering, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Hassan was the proprietor and operator of S & S Catering Inc., a for-profit restaurant and catering enterprise that participated within the scheme as a distribution website and as a vendor for different websites. S & S Catering obtained greater than $18 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Sahra Mohamed Nur, 61, of Saint Anthony, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Nur ran a website known as 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 cash laundering, and cash laundering. Mohamud ran a website known as 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 cash laundering, and cash laundering. Hassan ran a website known as Youth Increased Instructional Achievement that falsely claimed to serve as much as 4,300 meals a day.
• Guhaad Hashi Stated, 46, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit cash laundering. Hashi ran a website below the title Advance Youth Athletic Growth that falsely claimed to serve as much as 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 cash laundering, and cash laundering. Jesow ran a website known as 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 cash laundering. Abdul Ali ran a website known as Youth Inventors Lab that falsely claimed to have served a complete of roughly 1.5 million meals in a seven-month interval.
• Yusuf Bashir Ali, 40, of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit cash laundering. Yusuf Ali ran a website known as Youth Inventors Lab that falsely claimed to have served a complete of roughly 1.5 million meals in a seven-month interval.

The next defendants are named within 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 cash laundering, and cash laundering. Salad was the principal of Haji’s Kitchen and obtained roughly $11.6 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Fahad Nur, 38, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Nur was the principal of The Produce LLC, a vendor and purported meals provider who obtained greater than $5 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Anab Artan Awad, 52, of Plymouth, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Awad was the president of A number of Group Providers, MCA. Awad claimed greater than $11 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Sharmarke Issa, 40, of Edina, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Issa created an organization known as Minnesota’s Somali Group and was the supervisor of Wacan Restaurant LLC. Issa fraudulently induced MDE to pay out greater than $7.4 million in Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Farhiya Mohamud, 63, of Bloomington, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Mohamud was the principal and CEO of Dua Provides and Distribution Inc., a shell firm that laundered hundreds of thousands of {dollars} of fraudulently obtained Federal Little one Diet Program funds.

The next defendants are named within 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 applications bribery, federal applications bribery, and cash laundering. Alishire was the president and proprietor of Group Enhancement Providers Inc., an organization positioned within the JigJiga Enterprise Middle in Minneapolis. Group Enhancement Providers was a cultural mall owned and operated by Alishire and co-defendant Khadar Jigre Adan. Group Enhancement Providers obtained greater than $1.6 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Ahmed Yasin Ali, 57, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and cash laundering. Ali created a second program website, run by Lake Road Kitchen, and positioned within the JigJiga Enterprise Middle in Minneapolis.
• Khadar Jigre Adan, 59, of Lakeville, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and cash laundering. Adan was the CEO of Lake Road Kitchen, which was a program website positioned within the JigJiga Enterprise Middle in Minneapolis.

The next defendants are named within the United States v. Sharmake Jama, et al. indictment:

• Sharmake Jama, 34, of Rochester, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, federal applications bribery, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Sharmake Jama was a principal of Brava Restaurant and Café LLC. Brava Restaurant obtained roughly $4.3 million in fraudulent Federal Little one Diet Program funds.
• Ayan Jama, 43, of Rochester, Minnesota, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit cash laundering, and cash laundering. Ayan Jama was a principal of Brava Restaurant and Café LLC. Ayan Jama additionally created shell firms to launder fraudulent proceeds.
• Asha Jama, 39, of Lakeville, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit cash laundering and cash laundering. Asha Jama labored for Brava Restaurant and created shell firms to launder fraudulent proceeds.
• Fartun Jama, 35, of Rosemount, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit cash laundering and cash laundering. Fartun Jama labored for Brava Restaurant and created shell firms to launder fraudulent proceeds.
• Mustafa Jama, 45, of Rochester, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit cash laundering and cash laundering. Mustafa Jama labored for Brava Restaurant and created shell firms to launder fraudulent proceeds.
• Zamzam Jama, 48, of Rochester, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit cash laundering and cash laundering. Zamzam Jama labored for Brava Restaurant and created shell firms to launder fraudulent proceeds.

Legal informations:

• Bekam Addissu Merdassa, 39, of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, is charged with one rely of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
• Hadith Yusuf Ahmed, 34, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is charged with one rely of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
• Hanna Marekegn, 40, of Edina, Minnesota, is charged with one rely of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

United States Lawyer Andrew Luger thanked the FBI, IRS Legal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for his or her collaboration and expert investigative work in bringing these indictments.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Harry M. Jacobs, Chelsea A. Walcker, Matthew S. Ebert, and Joseph S. Teirab for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Lawyer Craig Baune is dealing with the seizure and forfeiture of belongings.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible past an affordable doubt in a court docket of legislation.