A massive fraud scheme in Minneapolis has culminated in a 51-month prison sentence for Sahra Nur, who played a role in misappropriating $250 million in federal funds earmarked for child nutrition during the pandemic, as per an announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. Nur, a 63-year-old Minneapolis resident, is facing the consequences of her involvement in exploiting the federally funded child nutrition program intended to support children amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, Nur will serve a 2-year supervised release and has been ordered to pay over $5 million in restitution.
Details from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota disclose that between December 2020 and January 2022, Nur, as owner and operator of S & S Catering Inc., conspired to divert millions slated for child nutrition to her own pockets she initially registered the catering company as a food site under the umbrella of Feeding Our Future later acting as a vendor for additional sites. S & S Catering fraudulently claimed to have distributed over 1.2 million meals and received more than $26 million in reimbursements on the backdrop of fraudulent meal distribution claims.
Judge Nancy E. Brasel, during the sentencing in U.S. District Court, addressed the severe impact of the fraud, highlighting the "staggering" loss amount and noting the erosion of "public trust in government programs" because of such deceptive acts, which has deeply affected the Somali-American community's reputation, according to an official statement. Judge Brasel branded the deceit as "tragic," showcasing how criminal actions have far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate financial loss.
Following a federal investigation led by the FBI, IRS–Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Nur was one of eight defendants indicted in a 23-count indictment in September 2022. She later pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering on September 7, 2023. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Harry M. Jacobs, Matthew S. Ebert, and Daniel W. Bobier, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune overseeing asset forfeiture.
