All Investigations
OPUS
OSINT - Publicly Available Sources January 07, 2026

minnesota fraud court records report

Analyst: OPUS (Claude Opus 4.5) Project Milk Carton
minnesota fraud court records report

minnesota fraud court records report

Minnesota Fraud Cases - Comprehensive Court Records Report

OPUS Investigation - January 6, 2026


TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Feeding Our Future Case
  3. Child Care/Medicaid Fraud Cases
  4. Political Connections
  5. Related Federal Investigations
  6. Sources

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Minnesota is at the center of what federal prosecutors have called “industrial-scale fraud” involving billions of dollars in federal funds. The fraud schemes span multiple programs including:

  • Feeding Our Future: $250+ million stolen from Federal Child Nutrition Program
  • Housing Stabilization Services: $302 million paid out (program budgeted for $12 million over same period)
  • Autism Treatment (EIDBI): $1.6 billion billed since 2018; significant fraud suspected
  • Total Potential Fraud: First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson estimates fraud may exceed $9 billion across 14 high-risk Medicaid programs since 2018

As of January 2026: - 78 defendants charged in Feeding Our Future alone - 57+ convicted (via guilty pleas or trial) - 92 total individuals charged across all Minnesota fraud schemes - 62+ convicted across all schemes


FEEDING OUR FUTURE CASE

Overview

The largest COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud scheme in U.S. history, as characterized by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Case Numbers

Case Number Case Name Description
0:22-cr-00223 United States v. Aimee Marie Bock, et al. Main indictment - founder and co-conspirators
0:22-cr-00224 United States v. Qamar Ahmed Hassan, et al. S&S Catering group - 8 defendants
0:20-cv-02312 Feeding Our Future v. Minnesota Department of Education Civil lawsuit filed by FOF against MDE (CourtListener)

Timeline

  • June 2018-December 2021: MDE received at least 30 complaints involving Feeding Our Future
  • January 20, 2022: FBI, IRS-CI, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service execute 25 search warrants
  • September 2022: Initial indictment of 47 defendants
  • October 2024: 70 defendants charged
  • April 22, 2024: First trial begins
  • June 7, 2024: First trial ends - 5 convicted, 2 acquitted
  • June 13, 2024: Minnesota Legislative Auditor releases Special Review Report
  • June 26, 2024: 5 defendants charged with jury tampering/bribery
  • October 15, 2024: First sentencing (Mohamed Ismail - 12 years)
  • February 2025: Second trial begins (Aimee Bock & Salim Said)
  • March 19, 2025: Bock and Said convicted on all counts
  • May-August 2025: Additional defendants indicted (71st-78th)
  • November 2025: 78th defendant (Abdirashid Bixi Dool) charged

CONVICTED DEFENDANTS (54 Total as of January 2026)

TRIAL CONVICTIONS (7 defendants)

Name Verdict Date Charges Key Details
Aimee Marie Bock March 19, 2025 Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery Founder and ringleader; took $1.9M including $900K to boyfriend; held pending sentencing; feds seek $5.2M restitution
Salim Said March 19, 2025 Wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering (21 counts) Safari Restaurant co-owner; businesses fraudulently collected $30M; received $5.5M personally; purchased $1M mansion
Abdiaziz Farah June 7, 2024 23 counts including conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering Empire Cuisine ringleader; defrauded $28M; pocketed $8M+; SENTENCED August 6, 2025 to 28 years
Mohamed Jama Ismail June 7, 2024 Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering Empire Cuisine co-owner; pocketed $2.2M; SENTENCED October 15, 2024 to 12 years
Abdimajid Nur June 7, 2024 10 counts including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, jury bribery Laundered stolen money; pocketed $900K; SENTENCED November 24, 2025 to 10 years
Hayat Nur June 7, 2024 3 counts including conspiracy to commit wire fraud Submitted fake meal counts; pocketed $30K
Mukhtar Shariff June 7, 2024 4 counts including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering Laundered $1.3M+; SENTENCED January 24, 2025 to 17.5 years

SENTENCED DEFENDANTS

Name Sentence Date Prison Term Restitution Details
Mohamed Jama Ismail October 15, 2024 12 years $47+ million First person sentenced; Empire Cuisine
Mukhtar Shariff January 24, 2025 17.5 years TBD Afrique Hospitality Group; pocketed $1.3M
Sharon Ross February 7, 2025 3.5 years $2.4 million House of Refuge; bought home, vacations, Timberwolves suite
Sahra Nur May 23, 2025 4 years 3 months $5 million Academy for Youth Excellence
Abdiaziz Farah August 6, 2025 28 years TBD Empire Cuisine ringleader; longest sentence to date
Abdimajid Nur November 24, 2025 10 years ~$48 million Empire Cuisine; also convicted of jury bribery

GUILTY PLEAS (47+ defendants)

Name Charges Company/Role Amount Involved
Abdulkadir Nur Salah Wire fraud Safari Restaurant co-owner $16M received; $5.5M restitution
Abdi Nur Salah Wire fraud Former Minneapolis mayoral aide; Stigma-Free International $1M+ pocketed
Bekam Merdassa Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Youth Inventors Lab $3M received
Hadith Yusuf Ahmed Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Southwest Metro Youth $1M in kickbacks
Hanna Marekegn Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Brava Cafe $7.1M received
Abdul Abubakar Ali Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Youth Inventors Lab 1.3M meals falsely claimed
Anab Awad Wire fraud Multiple Community Services $9.3M received
Liban Yasin Alishire Wire fraud and money laundering N/A $2.4M claimed; $714K kept
Mulata Ali Aiding and abetting theft Shell company operator $2M+ laundered
Mohamed Ali Hussein Wire fraud Somali American Faribault Education $5M+ defrauded
Lul Bashir Ali Wire fraud Lido Restaurant $5M+ defrauded
Abdulkadir Awale Wire fraud Three restaurants $11M+ stolen
Qamar Hassan Money laundering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud S&S Catering $800K+ transferred
Abdikadir Kadiye Wire fraud Hobyo Health Care Foundation $1M+ stolen
Yusuf Ali Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Youth Inventors Lab $3M+ received
Sahra Nur Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering Academy for Youth Excellence/S&S Catering $6M received; $5M+ pocketed
Filsan Hassan Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering Youth for Higher Educational Achievement $2.5M+ received
Ahmed Sharif Omar-Hashim Wire fraud Olive Management Inc. $7.4M received; $3M restitution
Sharon Ross Wire fraud House of Refuge $2.4M received
Hoda Ali Abdi Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Alif Halal LLC $243K+ received
Sharmarke Issa Wire fraud Minnesota’s Somali Community $1.1M spent including $700K home
Haji Salad Wire fraud Haji’s Kitchen $19M stolen; $11.4M pocketed
Khadra Abdi Wire fraud Shafi’i Tutoring & Homework Help Center $3.5M claimed
Kawsar Jama Wire fraud Four food sites Pelican Rapids site claimed 2,560 children daily (population 2,500)
Farhiya Mohamud Money laundering Real estate purchases N/A
Ayan Farah Abukar Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Action for East African People $5.7M+ received
Sharmake Jama Wire fraud and money laundering Brava Restaurant $5.3M received
Mohamed Muse Noor/Deeq Darajo Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Xogmaal Media $1.3M received
Ayan Jama Wire fraud and money laundering Brava Restaurant $5.3M received
Mekfira Hussein Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Shamsia Hopes $9M funneled; purchased Porsche and Tesla
Abduljabar Hussein Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Oromia Feeds Inflated meals for wife’s company
Zamzam Jama Money laundering Brava Restaurant $2M deposited to shell companies
Mustafa Jama Money laundering Brava Restaurant Purchased Lakeville home and Turkish property
Asha Jama Money laundering Brava Restaurant Purchased homes in Lakeville and Rochester
Najmo Ahmed Money laundering Evergreen Grocery and Deli $4.2M earned; $1.4M kept
Abdikadir Ainashe Mohamud Wire fraud Stigma-Free Willmar $5M+ siphoned
Abdinasir Mahamed Abshir Wire fraud Stigma-Free Mankato $5.4M received
Abdihakim Ahmed Wire fraud and money laundering ASA Limited $7.3M+ stolen
Ahmed Artan Wire fraud Stigma-Free International 5M meals claimed across fake sites
Ahmed Ghedi Wire fraud and money laundering ASA Limited St. Paul $7.3M received; $245K on luxury cars
Asad Mohamed Abshir Wire fraud Stigma-Free Mankato Co-operated with brother
Mahad Ibrahim Wire fraud and money laundering ThinkTechAct Foundation Multiple fraudulent sites
Hamdi Hussein Omar Wire fraud Stigma-Free Waite Park $1.4M received
Hibo Salah Daar Wire fraud Northside Wellness Center $2.4M received; $72K in bribes paid
Guhaad Said Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering Advance Youth Athletic Development $2.9M received
Abdullahe Nur Jesow Money laundering Academy for Youth Excellence $4.3M received
Abdiwahab Mohamud Conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud S&S Catering $17M stolen

RECENT INDICTMENTS (Not Yet Convicted)

Name Defendant # Charges Details
Muna Wais Fidhin 75th Wire fraud (3), Federal Programs Bribery (4), Money Laundering (3) Age 44
Shakur Abdisalam 77th TBD Arrested before boarding flight at MSP airport
Abdirashid Bixi Dool 78th Wire fraud, money laundering (7 counts) Age 36; Bilaal Mosque Inc. and Multicultural Resource Center; claimed $1.1M

JURY TAMPERING/BRIBERY CASE

During the first Feeding Our Future trial in April-June 2024, conspirators attempted to bribe Juror 52 with $120,000 in cash delivered to her home in exchange for not-guilty verdicts.

Defendants Charged (All Pleaded Guilty)

Name Plea Date Charges Role
Ladan Ali TBD Conspiracy to bribe a juror, bribery of a juror Recruited to deliver bribe money; flew from Seattle; received $150K payment
Abdimajid Nur TBD Conspiracy to bribe a juror, bribery of a juror, corruptly influencing a juror Orchestrated bribery scheme
Abdulkarim Farah April 2, 2025 Bribery of a juror Provided cash bribe
Abdiaziz Farah June 17, 2025 Bribery of a juror Previously convicted of fraud in first trial
Said Farah August 21, 2025 Bribery of a juror Fifth defendant to plead guilty

ASSET FORFEITURES

Federal prosecutors estimate they have recovered more than $60 million of the $250 million stolen.

Key Assets Subject to Forfeiture

Abdi Salah (Former Mayoral Aide): - $343,418.98 seized from Star Choice Credit Union account (Stone Bridge Development, LLC) - 8432 Noble Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN (formerly Kelly’s 19th Hole) - 2529 12th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN

Abdikerm Eidleh (Fled Country): - Burnsville property (still occupied by family despite forfeiture order since 2022)

General: - Multiple luxury vehicles (Range Rovers, Porsches, Teslas) - Real estate in Minnesota, Kenya, Turkey - Numerous residential and commercial properties


CHILD CARE/MEDICAID FRAUD CASES

Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) Fraud

Program Overview

  • Started July 2022; Minnesota first state to offer Medicaid coverage for HSS
  • Original budget: $2.6 million annually
  • Actual payouts:
    • 2022: $42 million
    • 2023: $74 million
    • 2024: $104 million
    • 2025 (6 months): $61 million
    • Total: $302 million (vs. $12 million budgeted over same period)
  • Program terminated October 31, 2025 due to widespread fraud

Defendants Charged (First Wave - September 2025)

Name Age Company Amount Charges
Moktar Hassan Aden 30 Brilliant Minds Services LLC $2.3M in claims Wire fraud
Mustafa Dayib Ali 29 Brilliant Minds Services LLC $300K-$400K pocketed Wire fraud
Khalid Ahmed Dayib 26 Brilliant Minds Services LLC $300K-$400K pocketed Wire fraud
Abdifitah Mohamud Mohamed 27 Brilliant Minds Services LLC $300K-$400K pocketed Wire fraud
Christopher Adesoji Falade 62 Faladcare LLC TBD Wire fraud
Emmanuel Oluwademilade Falade 32 Faladcare LLC TBD Wire fraud
Asad Ahmed Adow 26 Leo Human Services LLC TBD Wire fraud
Anwar Ahmed Adow 25 Liberty Plus LLC, Roseville $1.2M for 200 people Wire fraud

“Fraud Tourism” Case

  • Anthony Waddell Jefferson (37) and Lester Brown (53) - Philadelphia residents
  • Heard HSS program was “easy money”
  • Traveled to Minnesota, enrolled companies, returned to Philadelphia
  • Submitted fraudulent claims remotely
  • Obtained $3.5 million in Medicaid payments

Autism Treatment (EIDBI) Fraud

Program Overview

  • Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program
  • Provider growth: 41 providers (2018) to 300+ providers (2023) - 700% increase
  • Total billed 2018-2025: $1.6 billion across all DHS Medicaid programs

Defendants Charged

Name Age Company Amount Charges
Asha Farhan Hassan 28 Smart Therapy LLC $14M scheme; also $465K from FOF Wire fraud; GUILTY PLEA
Abdinajib Hassan Yussuf 27 Star Autism Center LLC $6M+ in reimbursements Wire fraud

Fraud Methods

  • Recruited children from Somali community
  • Helped children without autism diagnosis qualify for services
  • Hired unqualified relatives (18-19 year olds with no training) as “behavioral technicians”
  • Billed maximum allowable hours regardless of services actually provided
  • Paid cash kickbacks to parents to enroll children

Additional Medicaid Fraud Conviction

Name Conviction Date Company Amount Details
Abdifatah Yusuf August 2025 Promise Health Services, LLC $7.2 million Joint investigation by AG’s MFCU and HHS OIG

POLITICAL CONNECTIONS

Abdi Nur Salah (Former Minneapolis Mayoral Aide)

Status: Pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud

Background: - Senior Policy Aide to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey - Worked nearly a decade in Minneapolis city hall - Previously aide to City Council Member Abdi Warsame

Criminal Activity: - Brother of Safari Restaurant co-owner Abdulkadir Nur Salah - Registered Stigma-Free International nonprofit used to carry out fraud - “Used his political influence to lobby politicians to pressure the Minnesota Department of Education not to shut down Feeding our Future” - Federal prosecutors - Pocketed more than $1 million

Sentence: - Agreed to recommended sentence of approximately 2 years

Assets Forfeited: - $343,418.98 from Star Choice Credit Union (Stone Bridge Development, LLC) - 8432 Noble Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN - 2529 12th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN - Interest in Brooklyn Park restaurant property

Mayor Frey’s Response: Stated he was unaware of Salah’s activities; fired Salah in February 2022


Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman (Ward 6)

Status: NOT CHARGED

Connections: - Incorporated Stigma-Free International in August 2019 (7 months before pandemic) - Original purpose: “combat stigma around mental illness/mental health issues” - Only bank activity under his leadership: $100 deposit, $5/month service fee - Resigned from nonprofit August 2020 (two months after election to City Council) - Days after Osman’s exit, FOF set up Stigma-Free food distribution sites - $1.6 million deposited January 2021; sites used to bilk $10M+

Political Support for FOF: - Video evidence shows Osman at celebration for Aimee Bock - Claimed to have “pushed back” against Education Department for not allowing program expansion - Called MDE’s actions “racist tactics”

Wife’s Involvement (Ilo Amba): - Incorporated Urban Advantage Services (November 2020) - Received $460,000 in reimbursements (Feb-Nov 2021) - Claimed to serve 2,500 children per day from small downtown office - Minnesota AG shut it down, calling it a “fraudulent shell company”


Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh (District 62)

Status: NOT CHARGED

Campaign Donations from FOF Defendants: - Received $11,000 from individuals linked to FOF (returned) - Seven donors listed on search warrants: Salim Said, Ahmed Ghedi, Abdinasir Abshir, Ahmed Omar, Abdihakim Ahmed, Abdiwahab Mohamud, Sahra Mohamed (each donated $1,000) - Additional $1,000 from Shakur Abdisalam (later indicted as 77th defendant) - Additional $500 from Ikram Mohamed (charged with wire fraud, money laundering, federal programs bribery)

Political Activity: - Attended public event with Aimee Bock in 2021 - Criticized MDE’s decision to pause FOF funding - Initially defended FOF, accused state agencies of “targeting immigrant-owned businesses” - Later said he was “devastated” by allegations and didn’t know about them - September 2025: Returned additional donation from Muna Wais Fidhin (75th defendant) during mayoral campaign


Mayor Jacob Frey (Minneapolis)

Status: NOT CHARGED

Campaign Donations from FOF Defendants: - Received nine $1,000 donations ($9,000 total) from: - Abdinasir Abshir - Asad Abshir - Abdihakim Ahmed - Abdirahman Ahmed - Ahmed Ghedi - Abdikadir Mohamud - Salim Said - Abdi Salah - Abdulkadir Salah - All donations returned


Governor Tim Walz

Status: NOT CHARGED; Under Congressional Investigation

Oversight Committee Investigation: - December 2025: Chairman James Comer launched investigation into “widespread fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs under Governor Tim Walz’s watch” - January 7, 2026: Hearing scheduled with Minnesota state officials - February 10, 2026: Governor Walz and AG Ellison invited to testify

Key Allegations: - Failed to act on whistleblower complaints - Employees allegedly deleted data and withheld records to conceal fraud - Retaliation against whistleblowers

Walz Response: - “This is on my watch. I am accountable for this. And more importantly, I am the one that will fix it.” - Called $9 billion fraud estimate “sensationalized” - Ordered third-party audit of 14 high-risk Medicaid services - Hired former FBI agent to lead fraud prevention - Terminated HSS program October 2025


RELATED FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS

FBI Investigation

Lead Agencies: FBI, IRS-CI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HHS-OIG, Homeland Security Investigations

Key Actions: - January 20, 2022: 25 search warrants executed - December 2025: FBI Director Kash Patel announced “surge” of resources to Minnesota - Characterization: “Tip of a very large iceberg”

Findings: - Exposed “sham vendors, shell companies, and large-scale money laundering tied to the Feeding Our Future network” - 78 indictments, 57 convictions in FOF case alone - 92+ total individuals charged across all schemes


Treasury Department Investigation

Announcement: December 2, 2025 by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Focus: Whether Minnesota tax dollars were diverted to al-Shabaab (U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, al-Qaeda affiliate based in Somalia)

Status: Active investigation

Conflicting Evidence: - Federal counterterrorism sources (per City Journal): “The largest funder of Al-Shabaab is the Minnesota taxpayer” - Former U.S. Attorney Andy Luger: “There was never any evidence that this money went to fund terrorism nor was there any evidence that was the intent of the 70 people we indicted” - Rep. Ilhan Omar: “Pretty confident” terror funding link is false


House Oversight Committee Investigation

Chairman: James Comer (R-KY)

Timeline: - December 3, 2025: Letters requesting documents (December 17 deadline) - January 7, 2026: Hearing “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part I” - February 10, 2026: Governor Walz and AG Ellison invited to testify

Scope: - Fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs - Efforts to cover up fraud - Retaliation against whistleblowers


Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor - Special Review

Report Date: June 13, 2024 Title: “Minnesota Department of Education: Oversight of Feeding Our Future”

Key Findings: - MDE’s oversight was “inadequate” and “created opportunities for fraud” - Between June 2018 and December 2021, MDE received at least 30 complaints involving FOF - MDE “inappropriately asked Feeding Our Future to investigate complaints about itself” - MDE did not have a general counsel until January 2022 - MDE relied on untrained program staff to investigate fraud allegations - 2018 administrative review resulted in serious findings but no follow-up conducted

MDE Response: - Commissioner Jett disputed characterization - Claimed oversight “met applicable standards” - Established Office of Inspector General - Added General Counsel’s Office - Provided staff training

Full Report: https://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/sreview/2024/mdefof.htm


HHS OIG Involvement

Audit Findings: - Minnesota MFCU (Medicaid Fraud Control Unit) won most convictions for provider fraud (2020-22) compared to similarly sized states - Current staffing: 32 staff - Recommended staffing: 41 (Medicaid budget grew from $13B to $20B)

FY 2024 National Statistics: - MFCUs recovered $1.4 billion nationally - Criminal recoveries: $961 million (highest in 10 years) - Return on investment: $3.46 for every $1 spent


U.S. Attorney’s Assessment (December 2025)

Statement by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson:

“Minnesotans and taxpayers deserve to know the truth of the fraud. The fraud is not small. It isn’t isolated. The magnitude cannot be overstated. What we see in Minnesota is not a handful of bad actors committing crimes. It’s staggering industrial-scale fraud. It’s swamping Minnesota and calling into question everything we know about our state.”

Fraud Estimate: - 14 high-risk Medicaid programs: $18 billion spent since 2018 - Estimated fraud: “Half or more” ($9+ billion)

State’s Counter-Estimate: - State Medicaid Director John Connolly: Evidence substantiates “tens of millions” not $9 billion


SOURCES

Department of Justice Press Releases

FBI/IRS Resources

State/Legislative Reports

Congressional Oversight

CourtListener

News Sources

Wikipedia


Report compiled: January 6, 2026 OPUS Investigation for Project Milk Carton / ARIA