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

A fugitive accused of helping orchestrate a $250 million Minnesota fraud scheme that exploited a federal child nutrition program was captured this week in Somalia after nearly four years on the run, federal authorities said.

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

Prosecutors allege Eidleh was one of the architects of the "Feeding Our Future" fraud scheme, which authorities have described as one of the largest fraud cases in Minnesota history.

Eidleh was charged in connection with the scheme on Sept. 13, 2022.

A TIMELINE OF THE ‘LARGEST COVID-19 FRAUD SCHEME' IN THE UNITED STATES

He faces 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.

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

"He not only stole taxpayer dollars, but he also robbed vulnerable children of critical resources they desperately needed," McDonald continued. "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."

NUTRITION PROGRAM’S LAWSUIT TRIGGERS MN EDUCATION DEPT TO EASE OVERSIGHT, OPENING DOOR TO MORE FRAUD

According to court documents, Eidleh was responsible for recruiting and supporting Federal Child Nutrition Program sites under the program's sponsorship while working as an employee of Feeding Our Future.

Prosecutors allege Eidleh, along with other members of the scheme, solicited and received bribes and kickbacks from individuals and companies seeking approval to operate fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program sites.

According to the indictment, Feeding Our Future operated a "pay-to-play" scheme in which operators of fraudulent meal sites kicked back a portion of their illicit proceeds to employees, including Eidleh, often disguising the payments as consulting fees through shell companies.

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

Prosecutors allege he also created shell companies posing as meal vendors for those sites and submitted fraudulent invoices to obtain federal nutrition program funds.

According to prosecutors, Eidleh deposited more than $5 million in fraud proceeds, kickbacks and bribes into accounts associated with shell companies in an effort to conceal the source of the money.