Another individual from Minnesota’s Somali community is expected to plead guilty in a high-profile fraud case that has drawn national scrutiny, raising concerns about Attorney General Keith Ellison’s handling of the matter.
Court documents indicate that Ghandi Mohamed, aged 45, is likely to either enter a guilty plea at a hearing scheduled for Thursday or choose a no-contest plea that would allow for sentencing without admitting guilt.
Mr. Mohamed marks the sixth family member to plead guilty in a scheme identified by prosecutors, which illicitly claimed to offer meals while fraudulently obtaining $14 million from the federal child nutrition program.
Bill Grahn, a policy researcher with the American Experiment Center, remarked on the situation, saying, “While it’s positive that he and his co-conspirators have been convicted, a court trial would have better illustrated the scope of the fraud.”
The Mohamed family was present during a notorious 2021 meeting between Ellison and members of the Somali community, where some could be heard requesting aid for securing more financial resources, soon shifting their focus to political campaign contributions.
One community member commented, “The only way to safeguard our interests is to engage politically. We should vote wisely and, more crucially, support candidates who prioritize our needs,” to which Ellison agreed.
Ellison has denied any misconduct related to the discussions, stating he was unaware of the fraud allegations at the time. This meeting occurred prior to any convictions and before the Justice Department’s involvement.
“I met those individuals in good faith, not knowing some would later be found guilty of wrongdoing,” Ellison stated, clarifying that he never benefited from his interactions with them. He returned campaign contributions amounting to $2,500 to the Justice Department in 2025 after the meeting.
Republican Dalia al-Aqidi, who is campaigning for Congress in Minneapolis against Rep. Ilhan Omar, criticized Ellison, claiming he ignored the fraud issue while accepting contributions from those implicated. Al Aqidi expressed that constituents in her district are “outraged” by the ongoing scandal.
She outlined a five-point plan aimed at preventing future fraud, emphasizing that it’s essential for the sake of taxpayers and those in need. Al Aqidi argued that stopping such misuse is feasible with the necessary political determination and that it’s evident these schemes are manipulating the electoral process.
