(The Center Square) – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota has levied federal criminal charges against 10 additional defendants for allegedly exploiting a federally-funded child nutrition program for $250 million.
The charges include conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.
The defendants allegedly defrauded the Federal Child Nutrition Program – money meant to feed hungry children during COVID. Instead, the group allegedly spent the money on luxury vehicles, properties and clothing from Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Canada Goose.
Ikram Yusuf Mohamed, 41, of Minneapolis, worked as a consultant for Feeding Our Future and sponsored multiple food distribution sites listed in the names of family members including her husband, mother, and siblings.
Inspiring Youth & Out Reach LLC claimed to serve more than 1 million meals between February and November 2021. The company received more than $1.5 million in federal child food funds.
Aisha Hassan Hussein, 27, Ikram Mohamed’s sister, was the principal of United Youth of MPLS LLC. From December 2020 through November 2021, Hussein and her co-conspirators allegedly falsely claimed to have served more than 1.3 million meals to children at the United Youth sites, totaling $2.2 million.
Fadumo Mohamed Yusuf, 57, Ikram Mohamed’s mother, ran Active Mind’s Youth LLC. Between February and June 2021, Active Minds allegedly fraudulently claimed to have served more than 500,000 meals and received more than $1 million.
Sahra Sharif Osman, 41, of Savage, was the principal of Youth International Club. Between March and November 2021, Youth International allegedly fraudulently claimed to have served nearly 700,000 meals and received more than $1.4 million.
Suleman Yusuf Mohamed, 39, Ikram Mohamed’s brother, was the owner of Star Distribution LLC. The company allegedly received $10 million from February 2021 through April 2022.
Gandi Yusuf Mohamed, 43, Ikram Mohamed’s brother, was the owner of GAK Properties LLC and GIF Properties LLC. As alleged, between March 2021 and July 2022, Gandi Mohamed fraudulently received and laundered more than $1.1 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
Said Ereg, 45, was the owner and operator of Evergreen Grocery and Deli, a for-profit grocery and deli in south Minneapolis that employed Ereg’s wife, Najmo Ahmed, 34. As alleged, in April 2020 and April 2021, Evergreen Grocery and Deli fraudulently claimed to have served over 1.4 million meals to children and received more than $4.2 million in payments.
Ereg and Ahmed also allegedly transferred more than $2.5 million to foreign accounts controlled by foreign companies.
Hoda Ali Abdi, 53, the owner of Alif Halal LLC, allegedly fraudulently claimed to have provided $3 million worth of food for children through other co-conspirator’s sites.
United States Attorney Andrew Luger thanks the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their collaboration.