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Somali intelligence helps US arrest alleged leader of Minnesota fraud
Al Jazeera • • nation
Key Points:
- Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, a key suspect in a Minnesota COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud case, was arrested in Mogadishu, Somalia, through cooperation between the FBI and Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency.
- Eidleh is accused of being the second-in-command in a scheme involving Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit that misused federal funds intended for child nutrition, with charges filed against 47 individuals for a $250 million fraud.
- The fraud involved recruiting operators, collecting bribes disguised as consulting fees, and falsely claiming to serve thousands of children while billing for undelivered food through shell companies.
- The arrest highlights international efforts to pursue suspects who fled the US, amid concerns in Somalia about dual nationals returning to evade justice.
- The case has intensified scrutiny and enforcement actions against Minnesota’s Somali community, including attempts to end Temporary Protected Status and increased immigration enforcement, sparking protests and ongoing legal battles.
