The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) apprehended one of the main figures behind a $250 million welfare fraud scheme in Minnesota, during his time in Somalia this week, marking the end of a four-year evasion from federal authorities, the agency reported on Friday.
Abdikaam Aydre, 42, was among the first individuals indicted in 2022 for his involvement in the notorious Feeding Our Future scam. Federal prosecutors allege he misappropriated COVID-19 relief funds intended for a federal child nutrition program meant to assist hungry children.
Additionally, they characterized it as a pay-to-play operation where those managing roughly 200 fake children’s meal sites would share a part of their illicit earnings with staff, including Aydre.
Authorities assert that these children never received any nutritional support, as detailed in the federal indictment.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota disclosed on Friday that Aydre’s indictment featured 31 counts, including “conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, federal program bribery, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering.”
He was captured in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, on Thursday, according to officials.
Assistant Attorney General and President Donald Trump’s fraud advisor, Colin McDonald, stated that Aydre was “the central figure in the largest fraud scheme in Minnesota history.”
He further remarked:
Not only did he misappropriate taxpayer funds, but he also robbed vulnerable children of critical resources they desperately required. Instead of facing the consequences in the U.S., he fled to Somalia in a misguided attempt to dodge justice. This operation was successfully concluded thanks to our partners at the FBI. The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue fraudsters, regardless of where they attempt to escape.
Daniel Rosen, the U.S. attorney for Minnesota, also expressed his views on the matter.
“Aydre’s capture illustrates that if you defraud American taxpayers and think you can hide globally, justice will eventually find you,” he mentioned. “We appreciate the FBI’s efforts in locating Aydre and extend our gratitude to all our federal and international partners for helping us hold accountable those who have claimed fraudulent gains from the government.”
Aydre was reportedly involved in recruiting and aiding individuals in establishing phony food sites and vendor networks, billing the government millions for meals that were, in fact, never provided.
According to the Department of Justice, he and other staff solicited and accepted bribes and kickbacks from individuals and organizations looking to manage fraudulent meal distribution programs.
Aydre allegedly launched his own fake food website, claiming to serve thousands of children daily, as stated in the indictment.
“He funneled more than $5 million in kickbacks, bribes, and other illicit proceeds into shell company accounts, which were designed to obscure the identity and source of the unlawfully obtained funds,” prosecutors revealed.
The Feeding Our Future scheme is part of a larger network of social welfare frauds reportedly originating from Minnesota’s significant Somali community in the Twin Cities, which is currently under federal investigation.
Additionally, he had previously been convicted on all charges and sentenced to 41 years in prison in May, labeled as the “ringleader” of the Feeding Our Future operation.
At least 79 individuals have been charged and more than 60 have faced convictions related to this fraudulent scheme, according to reports.
