Suspect in Minnesota fraud case arrested in Somalia after 4 years on the run, officials say

Key Points:

• Abdikerm Eidleh, a key leader in the largest pandemic-era fraud scheme in the U.S., was arrested in Mogadishu, Somalia after more than four years on the run, according to federal officials.
• Eidleh was indicted in 2022 as part of the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud case, accused of bribing and recruiting businesses to submit inflated receipts to the Minnesota Department of Education.
• He allegedly collected $5 million in bribes and kickbacks and was considered second in command to Aimee Bock, the scheme’s ringleader sentenced to over 40 years in prison.
• The investigation has charged 79 people, mostly of Somali descent, with 66 convictions or guilty pleas; the case highlights the extensive efforts of U.S. law enforcement, including international cooperation.
• Authorities warn that while the Feeding Our Future case may be concluding, broader efforts to combat fraud in taxpayer-funded programs in Minnesota, potentially exceeding $1 billion, are ongoing.