FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudster Turns Himself In

A suspect in a significant federal fraud case has surrendered after being named on a new “Most Wanted Fraudsters” list by the FBI. Saeed Abdullahi Eleg was indicted in June 2024 for his involvement in the Feeding Our Future scheme. However, the U.S. District Attorney’s Office previously stated he resides overseas with his exact location unknown.

Prosecutors claim that Eleg submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims for a deli and grocery store he operated in Minneapolis, leading to over $4.2 million in funds from federal child nutrition programs. Interestingly, he allegedly claimed to provide “3,000 meals twice a day, seven days a week” as part of this operation.

Remarkably, Eleg turned himself in just one day after the fraudster list was made public. His deli and grocery store, Evergreen Grocery and Deli, was reportedly authorized to commit fraud starting around April 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning.

Moreover, his wife, Nazimo Ahmed, also reportedly received direct payments from the Feeding Our Future program. Together, they are accused of misappropriating funds from luxury brands like Burberry and Louis Vuitton, even transferring about $2.5 million to overseas accounts.

Eleg faces serious charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. His wife has already pleaded guilty to money laundering charges and is set to be sentenced soon.

Chris Dotson, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis field office, highlighted the collaborative efforts of various U.S. agencies in bringing fraud suspects to justice during a recent press conference. He mentioned that more names would be added to the Most Wanted Fraud List in the near future.