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crime10h ago
Somali fraud ring turned cash for hungry kids into luxury empires
- Federal prosecutors say a Somali-led ring stole over $1 billion from Minnesota feeding and housing programs, funding luxury purchases instead of aid.
- Investigators say invoices and meal counts at Feeding Our Future were largely fictional, with beneficiaries and records fabricated.
- Key figures spent funds on Porsche, Tesla, and other luxury items, while real patients and clients went underserved.
- Abdiaziz Shafii Farah was a central figure, spending millions and facing a 28-year sentence in August.
- Aimee Bock, founder of Feeding Our Future, faces sentencing as prosecutors allege she used her share on luxury travel and designer goods.
- The scandal spurred Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to launch a fraud-hunting task force and expand inter-agency data sharing.
- The state now faces questions about trust, welfare policy, and how to prevent future fraud while addressing community concerns.
- The case has ignited political tensions, with some critics blaming leadership while Somali community leaders dispute being unfairly painted.
- Prosecutors say more cases remain as authorities work to recover assets and pursue additional charges.
- The investigation shows a broader pattern of interlinked schemes beyond the feeding program, including housing aid and autism therapy fraud.
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