Somali-American Man Sentenced for $300 Million Fraud
A 36-year-old Somali-American has received a 28-year prison sentence linked to a large-scale fraud during the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically involving a scheme dubbed “fostering our future.”
Abdiaziz Farah, originally from Mogadishu, Somalia, came to the United States as a refugee in 2012 and later became a naturalized citizen that same year. He was sentenced on Wednesday for his key role in orchestrating this extensive fraud operation, having been convicted of various charges including wire fraud, passport fraud, federal program bribery, and money laundering.
The presiding judge, Joseph H. Thompson, emphasized the severity of the sentence, noting the financial opportunities that taxpayers had provided to Farah, which he ultimately repaid with criminal activity.
“Citizen. Citizenship. Free university education. After that, he went on to public employment with Minnesota. And how did he pay this country and this state? Crime,” Thompson stated.
Court records indicate that Farah co-owned a business called Empire Cuisine and Markets, which was registered with the Federal Children’s Nutrition Program in 2020. He falsely claimed to have established a site providing food daily to thousands of children. However, most of these “sites” were just empty parking lots or office buildings without any food service.
Evidence revealed that Farah bought five luxury vehicles in just six months, all funded through resources designated for feeding needy children. He also invested in property in Twin City, Kentucky, and even acquired a skyscraper in Nairobi, Kenya, using taxpayer funds.
When federal agents seized his passport during an investigation, Farah attempted to escape to Kenya. He claimed his passport was lost but was later issued a replacement. Prosecutors also contended that he laundered fraudulent income through China, complicating any efforts by U.S. law enforcement to retrieve misappropriated funds abroad. Altogether, the scheme resulted in a staggering $300 million loss.
As the trial progressed, authorities alleged that Farah and several others attempted to bribe a juvenile apprentice for a not-guilty verdict. His brothers, Shafiy Farah and Abdulkarim Shafiy Farah, along with Abdimajd Mohamed Nuru and Radhan Muhamed Ali, faced charges related to this bribery attempt in June 2024.
Farah’s sentence includes 28 years in federal prison and three additional years of supervised release for his involvement in this major fraud case. A ruling on the bribery charges from earlier proceedings will be issued at a later date.
