Guhaad Hashi Said, aged 49, has entered a guilty plea on counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, related to a fraud scheme that took advantage of a federally funded child nutrition program amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This case, investigated by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, is yet another chapter in the ongoing "Feeding Our Future" fraud case saga in Minnesota.
According to an announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson, Said's conviction marks the 52nd in this sprawling case. Thompson asserted, "These crimes are not isolated events, they are part of a web of schemes targeting programs that are intended to lift up Minnesotans and bleeding them dry." He emphasized that the fraud is extensive and that continual efforts are needed to address it, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota.
From December 2020 to January 2022, Said was involved in misappropriating millions of Federal Child Nutrition Program funds, meant to reimburse the cost of meals for underprivileged children. Instead of serving the reported 5,000 daily meals, Said’s organization, Advance Youth Athletic Development, grossly inflated meal counts and submitted fraudulent documentation to support the claims, as court documents highlighted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota showed.
In addition to the wire fraud, Said was also charged with laundering the illicit proceeds of the scheme. He, along with his co-conspirators, established non-profits and LLCs to disguise the origins of the fraudulent gains. Ultimately, the proceeds were channeled into various assets, including real estate and personal items. The authorities indicated that in total, about $2.9 million was siphoned from the Federal Child Nutrition Program in this manner.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs, and Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting the cases. The date for Said's sentencing is pending, and he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. stated, "Said stole money, falsified paperwork submitted to the government, and was reimbursed millions of dollars to which he was not entitled." He emphasized the determination of the FBI and its law enforcement partners to bring the scheme to a halt and ensure that all involved face accountability for their actions.
