American Man sentenced to 28 years for $48m COVID-Era food program fraud

 A Minnesota man has been sentenced to 28 years in federal prison for leading a massive fraud scheme that stole nearly $48 million from a pandemic-era food aid program meant to feed children.

 

Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, 36, was also ordered to pay restitution equal to the amount stolen. He may face additional prison time at a later hearing after pleading guilty to a separate juror bribery case, which involved an attempt to influence a trial with a bag containing $120,000 in cash.
 

Farah is among dozens charged in the high-profile Feeding Our Future scandal, a federal investigation that uncovered an alleged $300 million scheme involving fraudulent claims for child meal reimbursements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

In 2024, Farah was convicted on 23 of 24 charges, including wire fraud, federal program bribery, and money laundering. Prosecutors said he and his co-conspirators created fake meal distribution sites and submitted false claims, including fabricated names of children who supposedly received meals.
 

The stolen funds were funneled through a “pay-to-play” system, with Farah directing large sums to co-conspirators while enriching himself with more than $8 million. He used the money to purchase luxury vehicles, real estate in Minnesota and Kenya, and to move funds through China—assets now outside the reach of U.S. authorities.
 

In a statement, Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said Farah “has done untold damage to this state” and “robbed us blind” after taking advantage of Minnesota’s trust and federal resources.

The Feeding Our Future case has become one of the largest pandemic fraud investigations in the country. To date, 73 individuals have been charged, with 51 found guilty.