MINNEAPOLIS — The jury in the high-profile Feeding Our Future pandemic fraud trial returned a mixed verdict in the case Friday, convicting five of the seven defendants of several, but not all charges against them. Two defendants were found not guilty on all counts.
All seven defendants were charged with wire fraud conspiracy, with more than three dozen additional charges of wire fraud, federal program bribery, money laundering and conspiracy against various combinations of the defendants.
VERDICTS
Abdiaziz Farah: Guilty on 23 of 24 counts, including wire fraud conspiracy, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, multiple counts of money laundering, multiple counts of wire fraud, but found not guilty on one count of wire fraud (count 2).
Mohamed Ismail: Guilty on three of four counts, not guilty on one count of wire fraud (count 2).
Abdimajid Nur: Guilty of 10 of 13 counts, not guilty on three counts of money laundering (counts 24, 25, 29).
Said Farah: Not guilty on all nine counts.
Abdiwahab Aftin: Not guilty on all three counts.
Mukhtar Shariff: Guilty on four of six counts.
Hayat Nur: Guilty on three of five counts.
Federal prosecutors held a press conference following the announcement, condemning the defendants’ actions and calling them “depraved.”
“The verdict confirms what we’ve known all along, which is that defendants falsified documents, they lied and they fraudulently claimed to be feeding millions of meals to children in Minnesota during COVID,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, who led the case.
“The defendants took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud the state of Minnesota and to steal tens of millions of dollars. This conduct was not just criminal, it was depraved and brazen.”
Thompson declined to comment on the juror bribery allegations or take reporters’ questions, saying more trials in this case and related cases are still to come.
“Exploiting a program designed to feed underserved children during the COVID pandemic is reprehensible,” Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston of FBI Minneapolis said in a press release. “Today's verdict is a clear warning to those who exploit the most vulnerable for personal gain. Justice will be swift and severe. The FBI, alongside our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office, stand united in condemning such acts and ensuring that those who prey on others face the consequences they deserve.”
The verdict comes after weeks of witness testimony and a scandal within a scandal, as one member of the jury was allegedly bribed with cash for their vote to acquit. That juror was subsequently dismissed by Judge Nancy Brasel, as well as a second juror who told the court she had heard about the bribe before the jury could be sequestered.
The bribe reportedly involved $120,000 in cash, which FBI agents linked to a Savage home belonging to defendant Abdiaziz Farah. He's accused of purchasing the home with money prosecutors claim was stolen from the nonprofit organization, as part of the meal program's alleged widespread fraud.
Collectively, the seven defendants were accused of stealing over $40 million that officials said cost taxpayers $250 million. The alleged scheme occurred as changes were made to the federal meal program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors said only a fraction of money went toward the organization's mission to feed low-income kids.
They are accused of using the stolen money for homes, luxury cars, travel and jewelry.
“I am extraordinarily proud of the prosecution team and our law enforcement partners who have spent years investigating this highly complex and widespread fraud scheme,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said in a release. “With today’s convictions, a total of 23 individuals have been held accountable for their roles in this egregious conspiracy to steal millions of taxpayer dollars.”
According to KARE 11's Lou Raguse, the five defendants who were found guilty will remain in jail – possibly until their sentencing date, which will be scheduled at a later date.
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