Suspect in $250M Minnesota fraud case arrested hiding out in Somalia
Minnesota Welfare Fraud Suspect Arrested in Somalia after Four Years on the Run
After almost four years on the run, Abdikerm Eidleh, a key figure in a $250 million Minnesota welfare fraud scheme, was apprehended in Somalia this week, the Justice Department revealed on Friday.
Eidleh, 42, was one of the initial suspects indicted in connection to the Feeding Our Future scam, which is considered the largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the nation. He was taken into custody in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, on Thursday.
Back in September 2022, Eidleh faced 31 counts of various charges, including wire fraud, federal programs bribery, and money laundering, for his alleged involvement in a scheme to embezzle pandemic relief funds designated for feeding underprivileged children.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, known as President Trump’s fraud czar, labeled Eidleh as a “central figure in one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history.” McDonald stated that Eidleh not only misappropriated taxpayer funds but also deprived vulnerable children of essential resources they urgently required.
“Rather than facing justice in the United States, he fled to Somalia in a futile attempt to evade accountability,” McDonald added. “Thanks to the exceptional efforts of our FBI partners, his escape was cut short. The Department of Justice is committed to pursuing and prosecuting fraudsters wherever they try to hide.”
Minnesota US Attorney Daniel Rosen emphasized that Eidleh’s arrest sends a clear message that those who defraud American taxpayers and attempt to evade justice globally will be pursued and held accountable.
The indictment against Eidleh alleges that he recruited and supported criminals who established fraudulent food sites and fictitious vendor networks to fraudulently bill the government for millions of meals that were never distributed to children.
Furthermore, Eidleh and his accomplices allegedly received bribes and kickbacks from individuals and companies seeking approval to operate fake meal distribution sites. Eidleh reportedly deposited over $5 million in illicit funds into accounts linked to his shell companies to conceal the origin of the money.
Aimee Bock, the mastermind behind the Feeding Our Future scam, was sentenced to 41 years in prison in May after being found guilty on all charges. To date, at least 79 individuals have been charged in connection to the scheme, with over 60 convictions.
