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

An alleged leader of one of the largest pandemic-era fraud schemes in the United States has been apprehended overseas after more than four years as a fugitive. Abdikerm Eidleh, 43, was arrested earlier this week in Mogadishu, Somalia, during a joint operation by the FBI and Somali intelligence agencies. Eidleh was indicted in September 2022 in connection with the sweeping $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud investigation in Minnesota. U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, Daniel Rosen, described Eidleh as a "big fish" and a key leader responsible for bribing and recruiting businesses to defraud American taxpayers. Investigators allege Eidleh personally received $5 million in bribes and kickbacks by instructing restaurants and catering businesses to inflate their receipts submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education. Rosen indicated that while the Feeding Our Future chapter may be closing, efforts to protect taxpayers are ongoing. The FBI stated that Somalia is not a safe haven for fugitives. To date, 79 people have been charged in the Feeding Our Future case, with 66 convicted or pleading guilty. Numerous other fraud schemes targeting taxpayer-funded social services in Minnesota are also under investigation, with the total potential fraud in the state estimated by Rosen to exceed $1 billion.

“

This is a big fish. Eidleh was a key leader and was responsible for bribing and recruiting business to steal from the American taxpayer.