Minnesota Food Fraud Leader Sentenced to 28 years in Prison, $48M Restitution Ordered
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, 36, a key figure in a massive COVID-19 pandemic-era fraud scheme, was sentenced Wednesday to 28 years in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $48 million in restitution. The sentencing marks a notable growth in the “Feeding Our Future” case,which uncovered the theft of an estimated $300 million from a federal programme designed to provide meals to children during the pandemic.
Farah’s conviction stems from his leadership role in exploiting the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative. Prosecutors detailed how Farah and his associates created numerous fraudulent food distribution sites, falsely claiming to serve meals to thousands of children daily – frequently enough inflating or entirely fabricating the number of meals and the identities of the children supposedly being fed.
The scheme operated primarily in the Minneapolis area, with fraudulent sites established across Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Farah, along with dozens of co-defendants, allegedly diverted over $47 million in program funds, with Farah personally profiting by more than $8 million between 2020 and 2022. He used these illicit gains to purchase luxury vehicles – including a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Cadillac – and acquire real estate, including properties in Kenya. Authorities have noted that a significant portion of the laundered funds were routed through China, placing them beyond the immediate reach of U.S. law enforcement.
This case gained further notoriety after a juror was offered a $120,000 bribe in cash – delivered in a duffel bag – during the trial last year. Farah was ultimately convicted on 23 of 24 counts,including federal programs bribery,wire fraud,and money laundering.
“Abdiaziz Shafii farah has done untold damage to this state,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson.”He robbed us blind,finding opportunity in Minnesota to exploit a program meant to feed children.”
The “Feeding Our Future” scandal highlights vulnerabilities within the CACFP and has prompted calls for increased oversight and stricter regulations to prevent future fraud. To date, 73 individuals have been charged in connection with the case, with 51 convictions secured. The examination, led by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, remains ongoing.
Learn more about protecting yourself from fraud: https://www.usa.gov/fraud-scams
