Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, the man at the helm of the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. The judgment also includes 3 years of supervised release and a restitution payment upwards of $47 million. Found guilty of multiple charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery, Farah exploited a child nutrition program to funnel over $47 million of federal funds into his own pockets.
Farah, 36, orchestrated the overwhelming scam by claiming to have served millions of meals to children through various food distribution sites, some of which were merely vacant spaces or even parking lots, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. His elaborate strategy involved inflating meal counts and fabricating invoices, backed by rosters laden with fictitious names such as "Serious Problem" and "Britishy Melony." Farah's illegal activities were not only confined to the United States, as he extended his financial escapades by purchasing high-end real estate and luxury vehicles, and sent stolen funds out of the country, which are now beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement.
Blatantly abusing the trust and opportunities provided to him by the country that welcomed him as a refugee, Farah pocketed more than $8 million in just 18 months. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson put it bluntly in his statement: “This country gave Farah everything. A home. Citizenship. A free college education. After that he went on to public employment with the state of Minnesota. And how did he repay this country and this state? By robbing us blind." He additionally pointed out that Farah caused significant damage to the state, particularly impacting the refugee community from which he himself once came
The scale of Farah's fraudulent scheme was also emphasized by United States District Judge Nancy E. Brasel. "Given that background, it is ironic at best that, as the government aimed, no child went hungry during the pandemic, you saw the opportunity to fraudulently make money,” Judge Brasel conveyed during the sentencing. Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis, also weighed in, asserting that Farah's actions "exemplify a betrayal of societal trust," as stated on the Justice Department's website.
The case was jointly investigated by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys overseeing the prosecution and asset seizure efforts. Farah's sentencing sends a strong message that those who exploit federal programs designed to aid vulnerable communities will face significant legal consequences. His additional pending sentencing for attempting to bribe a juror stands as a further testament to his audacious disregard for the rule of law.
