Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, a 42-year-old from Burnsville, Minnesota, was arrested in Mogadishu, Somalia, on June 25, 2026, after evading justice for over four years. Eidleh is accused of orchestrating a $250 million fraud scheme through the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which allegedly defrauded a federal child nutrition program during the pandemic.
Eidleh, described as a central figure in the scheme, was indicted in September 2022 on 31 counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, federal programs bribery, and money laundering. Prosecutors allege he recruited operators to enroll fraudulent meal sites, collected bribes, and laundered over $5 million through shell companies. One transfer covered a $95,000 mortgage payment on his Burnsville home.
The FBI, working with Somali intelligence, tracked Eidleh down in Mogadishu. U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen stated that Eidleh's capture demonstrates the reach of American justice, emphasizing that fraud against taxpayers will not go unpunished. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald called Eidleh a key figure in "one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history," noting that the scheme robbed vulnerable children of critical resources.
Eidleh is one of 79 people charged in the Feeding Our Future case, with 66 already convicted or pleading guilty. The scheme involved creating fake meal sites, inflating receipts, and laundering funds through shell companies. Prosecutors estimate the total fraud in Minnesota could exceed $1 billion, including other taxpayer-funded social service programs.
Eidleh has not yet entered a plea, and it remains unclear if he has obtained legal representation. The case highlights the ongoing efforts to hold accountable those involved in large-scale fraud during the pandemic.