Four individuals have admitted guilt in connection with a $250 million fraud scheme involving the Federal Child Nutrition Program, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. The fraudulent activities took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and exploited funds intended for child nutrition.
Abduljabar Hussein, 44, from Shakopee, Minnesota, was involved in the scheme between October 2020 and January 2022. He conspired to obtain federal funds through false claims submitted by his wife’s non-profit organization, Shamsia Hopes. Under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and directed by its employee Abdikerm Eidleh, Mekfira Hussein enrolled Shamsia Hopes in the program. Abduljabar later registered Oromia Feeds LLC as a vendor for food services at sites managed by his wife.
The couple filed inflated invoices and meal counts to receive reimbursements beyond what they provided. They paid kickbacks totaling at least $152,000 to Eidleh and Aimee Bock of Feeding Our Future disguised as consulting fees without any actual services rendered.
Hussein's plea agreement revealed that they misappropriated up to $8.8 million from federal funds for personal expenses including mortgage payments on their home and luxury vehicle purchases. As part of his sentence, Hussein must forfeit these assets.
In another case related to this scheme, Zamzam Jama, Mustafa Jama, and Asha Jama pled guilty to laundering money obtained through fraudulent means via Brava Restaurant under Feeding Our Future’s sponsorship. They created shell companies to channel misappropriated funds into personal expenditures unrelated to child nutrition.
Zamzam Jama used these funds for purchasing a home and a vehicle; Mustafa Jama acquired properties in Ohio and Turkey; while Asha Jama invested in homes within Minnesota using these ill-gotten gains. All three have agreed to forfeiture of their interests in these properties along with significant sums from their bank accounts seized by investigators.
These admissions were made before Judge Nancy E. Brasel in separate proceedings held on February 5-7, 2025. Sentencing dates are yet to be determined.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert among others.