Food Fraud Scheme Sentenced in Minnesota

On Wednesday, a federal judge sentenced Abdiaziz Shafii Farah to 28 years in prison for his involvement in food fraud schemes that emerged during the pandemic.

Farah, who is 36, has also been ordered to pay nearly $48 million in restitution. He may face additional prison time later after pleading guilty to a bribery case linked to a $120,000 cash payment, which complicates matters further.

He’s among a larger group of individuals accused in a scheme where prosecutors alleged they plotted to siphon $300 million from a federal program meant to provide meals for children affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, Farah and others went to trial, resulting in his conviction on 23 out of 24 counts. These charges ranged from fraudulent activities in federal programs to wire fraud and money laundering.

Prosecutors claimed Farah took advantage of the program by setting up fake sites that falsely reported serving thousands of children daily.

He and his associates reportedly fabricated the number of meals served and created names for nonexistent children, funneling the illegally obtained funds to others. This was accomplished through a so-called “payment” system, according to the prosecution.

The total amount stolen from the program exceeded $47 million, with over $8 million taken in just a year and a half. Farah is said to have used these funds for five luxury cars and substantial real estate investments, even in Kenya. Some of his assets, prosecutors claim, have been laundered through China, evading U.S. law enforcement.

In response, Farah’s attorney, Joseph Thompson, remarked that his client acted out of “blindness” to the potential consequences of his choices in Minnesota.

A total of 73 individuals have been charged in relation to this feeding fraud case; of those, 51 have been found guilty.