How Fraud Swamped Minnesota’s Social Services System on Tampon Tim Walz’s Watch

[Maximum Overkill 2,556]

The fraud scandal that rattled Minnesota was staggering in its scale and brazenness.

Federal prosecutors charged dozens of people with felonies, accusing them of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from a government program meant to keep children fed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

At first, many in the state saw the case as a one-off abuse during a health emergency. But as new schemes targeting the state’s generous safety net programs came to light, state and federal officials began to grapple with a jarring reality.

Over the last five years, law enforcement officials say, fraud took root in pockets of Minnesota’s Somali diaspora as scores of individuals made small fortunes by setting up companies that billed state agencies for millions of dollars’ worth of social services that were never provided.

Federal prosecutors say that 59 people have been convicted in those schemes so far, and that more than $1 billion in taxpayers’ money has been stolen in three plots they are investigating. That is more than Minnesota spends annually to run its Department of Corrections. Minnesota’s fraud scandal stood out even in the context of rampant theft during the pandemic, when Americans stole tens of billions through unemployment benefits, business loans and other forms of aid, according to federal auditors.

How Fraud Swamped Minnesota’s Social Services System on Tim Walz’s Watch - The New York Times https://share.google/lTzzL4e8pQaKb3FAT

[easilyscan 1,042]

Aimee Marie Bock, 41, Apple Valley, founder & executive director of Feeding Our Future.

Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 39, Burnsville, employee of Feeding Our Future.

Salim Ahmed Said, 33, of Plymouth, owner and operator of Safari Restaurant.

Abdulkadir Nur Salah, 36, Columbia Heights, owner and operator of Safari Restaurant.

Ahmed Sharif Omar-Hashim, also known as “Salah Donyale,” 39, Minneapolis, creator of Olive Management Inc.

 

Abdi Nur Salah, 34, Minneapolis, former senior policy aide to Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, acquired the nonprofit Stigma-Free International from its previous owner, listed in the indictment as “Individual A.”

Abdihakim Ali Ahmed, 36, Apple Valley, creator of ASA Limited LLC.

Ahmed Mohamed Artan, 37, Minneapolis, became the new president of Stigma-Free International and registered it with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office.

Abdikadir Ainanshe Mohamud, also known as “AK,” 30, Fridley, ran the Stigma-Free Willmar food site.

Abdinasir Mahamed Abshir, 30, Minneapolis, ran the Stigma-Free Mankato food site.

 

11-20

 

Asad Mohamed Abshir, 32, Mankato, ran the Stigma-Free Mankato food site.

Hamdi Hussein Omar, 26, St. Paul, ran the Stigma-Free Waite Park food site.

Ahmed Abdullahi Ghedi, 32, Minneapolis, created ASA Limited LLC.

Abdirahman Mohamud Ahmed, also known as “Chef Abcos,” 54, Columbus, Ohio, owner Afra Grill.

Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, 33, Savage, owner and operator of Empire Cuisine and Market LLC.

 

Mohamed Jama Ismail, 49, Savage, owner and operator of Empire Cuisine and Market LLC.

Mahad Ibrahim, 46, Lewis Center, Ohio, president and owner of ThinkTechAct Foundation.

Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, 21, Shakopee, created Nur Consulting LLC.

Said Shafii Farah, 40, Minneapolis, owner of Bushra Wholesalers LLC and brother of Abdiaziz Farah.

Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin, 32, Minneapolis, owner of Bushra Wholesalers LLC.

 

21-30

 

Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, 31, Bloomington, chief executive officer of Afrique Hospitality Group.

Hayat Mohamed Nur, 25, Eden Prairie, sister of Abdimajid Mohamed Nur and participator in scheme.

Qamar Ahmed Hassan, 53, Brooklyn Park, owner and operator of S & S Catering.

Sahra Mohamed Nur, 61, Saint Anthony, ran Academy For Youth Excellence site.

Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud, 32, Brooklyn Park, ran Academy For Youth Excellence site.

 

Filsan Mumin Hassan, 28, Brooklyn Park, ran Youth Higher Educational Achievement site.

Guhaad Hashi Said, 46, Minneapolis, ran Advance Youth Athletic Development site.

Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 62, Columbia Heights,  ran Academy For Youth Excellence site.

Abdul Abubakar Ali, 40, St. Paul, ran Youth Inventors Lab site.

Yusuf Bashir Ali, 40, Vadnais Heights, ran Youth Inventors Lab site.

 

31-40

 

Haji Osman Salad, 32, St. Anthony, principal of Haji’s Kitchen.

Fahad Nur, 38, Minneapolis, principal of The Produce LLC.

Anab Artan Awad, 52, Plymouth, president of Multiple Community Services.

Sharmarke Issa, 40, Edina, creator of a company called Minnesota’s Somali Community and manager of Wacan Restaurant LLC.

Farhiya Mohamud, 63, Bloomington principal and chief executive officer of Dua Supplies and Distribution Inc.

 

Liban Yasin Alishire, 42, Brooklyn Park, president and owner of Community Enhancement Services Inc.

Ahmed Yasin Ali, 57, Brooklyn Park, created a food site run by Lake Street Kitchen in the JigJiga Business Center.

Khadar Jigre Adan, 59, Lakeville chief executive officer of food site run by Lake Street Kitchen in the JigJiga Business Center.

Sharmake Jama, 34, Rochester, principal of Brava Restaurant and Cafe LLC.

Ayan Jama, 43, Rochester, principal of Brava Restaurant and Cafe LLC.

 

41-50

 

Asha Jama, 39, Lakeville, worked for Brava Restaurant.

Fartun Jama, 35, Rosemount, worked for Brava Restaurant. (Court records from July 2023 show that Fartun has since died.)

Mustafa Jama, 45, Rochester, worked for Brava Restaurant.

Zamzam Jama, 48, Rochester, worked for Brava Restaurant.

Bekam Addissu Merdassa, 39, Inver Grove Heights.

 

Hadith Yusuf Ahmed, 34, Eden Prairie.

Hanna Markegn, 40, Edina.

Mekfira Hussein, who was charged after buying one-way ticket to Ethiopia that was set to leave on the evening of September 20.

Mohamed Noor, a prominent community journalist and owner of a Xogmaal Media Group in Minneapolis who also goes by Deeq Darajo. Authorities arrested him September 26 in Chicago as he was on his way to Istanbul.

Abduljabar Hussein, 42, faces charges of wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering. He is married to Mekfira Hussein.

 

51-60

 

Mohamed Ali Hussein, Faribault, president and owner of Somali American Faribault Education (SAFE), a nonprofit organization that operated a food site under Feeding Our Future.

Lul Bashir Ali, Faribault, owner of Lido Restaurant, a food site and meal vendor that purported to provide and serve meals at the Somali American Faribault Education site.

Mulata Ali, manager of Franklyn Transportation in Minneapolis, which was previously identified as a shell company funneling food-aid money.

Kawsar Jama, Eagan, principal of Gedo Community Services and Ahlan Childcare Center Inc.

Abdikadir Kadiye, Plymouth, president of Hobyo Health Care Foundation.

 

Abdulkadir Awale, Bloomington, principal of Karmel Coffee and Sambusa King, and the chief executive officer of Nawal Restaurant.

Khadra Abdi, principal of Shafi’i Tutoring and Homework Help Center.

Ayan Farah Abukar, founder and executive director of Action for East African People, a nonprofit that provided health, housing, and education services to East Africans across Minnesota. The defendant used the nonprofit to enroll multiple food sites.

Sade Osman Hashi, chief executive officer of Great Lakes Inc., a food site that also operated as a vendor called Safari Express.

Sharon Ross, executive director of House of Refuge Outreach, a nonprofit organization in St. Paul.

 

 

[Maximum Overkill 2,556]

2 hours ago, easilyscan said:

Aimee Marie Bock, 41, Apple Valley, founder & executive director of Feeding Our Future.

Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 39, Burnsville, employee of Feeding Our Future.

Salim Ahmed Said, 33, of Plymouth, owner and operator of Safari Restaurant.

Abdulkadir Nur Salah, 36, Columbia Heights, owner and operator of Safari Restaurant.

Ahmed Sharif Omar-Hashim, also known as “Salah Donyale,” 39, Minneapolis, creator of Olive Management Inc.

 

Abdi Nur Salah, 34, Minneapolis, former senior policy aide to Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, acquired the nonprofit Stigma-Free International from its previous owner, listed in the indictment as “Individual A.”

Abdihakim Ali Ahmed, 36, Apple Valley, creator of ASA Limited LLC.

Ahmed Mohamed Artan, 37, Minneapolis, became the new president of Stigma-Free International and registered it with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office.

Abdikadir Ainanshe Mohamud, also known as “AK,” 30, Fridley, ran the Stigma-Free Willmar food site.

Abdinasir Mahamed Abshir, 30, Minneapolis, ran the Stigma-Free Mankato food site.

 

11-20

 

Asad Mohamed Abshir, 32, Mankato, ran the Stigma-Free Mankato food site.

Hamdi Hussein Omar, 26, St. Paul, ran the Stigma-Free Waite Park food site.

Ahmed Abdullahi Ghedi, 32, Minneapolis, created ASA Limited LLC.

Abdirahman Mohamud Ahmed, also known as “Chef Abcos,” 54, Columbus, Ohio, owner Afra Grill.

Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, 33, Savage, owner and operator of Empire Cuisine and Market LLC.

 

Mohamed Jama Ismail, 49, Savage, owner and operator of Empire Cuisine and Market LLC.

Mahad Ibrahim, 46, Lewis Center, Ohio, president and owner of ThinkTechAct Foundation.

Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, 21, Shakopee, created Nur Consulting LLC.

Said Shafii Farah, 40, Minneapolis, owner of Bushra Wholesalers LLC and brother of Abdiaziz Farah.

Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin, 32, Minneapolis, owner of Bushra Wholesalers LLC.

 

21-30

 

Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, 31, Bloomington, chief executive officer of Afrique Hospitality Group.

Hayat Mohamed Nur, 25, Eden Prairie, sister of Abdimajid Mohamed Nur and participator in scheme.

Qamar Ahmed Hassan, 53, Brooklyn Park, owner and operator of S & S Catering.

Sahra Mohamed Nur, 61, Saint Anthony, ran Academy For Youth Excellence site.

Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud, 32, Brooklyn Park, ran Academy For Youth Excellence site.

 

Filsan Mumin Hassan, 28, Brooklyn Park, ran Youth Higher Educational Achievement site.

Guhaad Hashi Said, 46, Minneapolis, ran Advance Youth Athletic Development site.

Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 62, Columbia Heights,  ran Academy For Youth Excellence site.

Abdul Abubakar Ali, 40, St. Paul, ran Youth Inventors Lab site.

Yusuf Bashir Ali, 40, Vadnais Heights, ran Youth Inventors Lab site.

 

31-40

 

Haji Osman Salad, 32, St. Anthony, principal of Haji’s Kitchen.

Fahad Nur, 38, Minneapolis, principal of The Produce LLC.

Anab Artan Awad, 52, Plymouth, president of Multiple Community Services.

Sharmarke Issa, 40, Edina, creator of a company called Minnesota’s Somali Community and manager of Wacan Restaurant LLC.

Farhiya Mohamud, 63, Bloomington principal and chief executive officer of Dua Supplies and Distribution Inc.

 

Liban Yasin Alishire, 42, Brooklyn Park, president and owner of Community Enhancement Services Inc.

Ahmed Yasin Ali, 57, Brooklyn Park, created a food site run by Lake Street Kitchen in the JigJiga Business Center.

Khadar Jigre Adan, 59, Lakeville chief executive officer of food site run by Lake Street Kitchen in the JigJiga Business Center.

Sharmake Jama, 34, Rochester, principal of Brava Restaurant and Cafe LLC.

Ayan Jama, 43, Rochester, principal of Brava Restaurant and Cafe LLC.

 

41-50

 

Asha Jama, 39, Lakeville, worked for Brava Restaurant.

Fartun Jama, 35, Rosemount, worked for Brava Restaurant. (Court records from July 2023 show that Fartun has since died.)

Mustafa Jama, 45, Rochester, worked for Brava Restaurant.

Zamzam Jama, 48, Rochester, worked for Brava Restaurant.

Bekam Addissu Merdassa, 39, Inver Grove Heights.

 

Hadith Yusuf Ahmed, 34, Eden Prairie.

Hanna Markegn, 40, Edina.

Mekfira Hussein, who was charged after buying one-way ticket to Ethiopia that was set to leave on the evening of September 20.

Mohamed Noor, a prominent community journalist and owner of a Xogmaal Media Group in Minneapolis who also goes by Deeq Darajo. Authorities arrested him September 26 in Chicago as he was on his way to Istanbul.

Abduljabar Hussein, 42, faces charges of wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering. He is married to Mekfira Hussein.

 

51-60

 

Mohamed Ali Hussein, Faribault, president and owner of Somali American Faribault Education (SAFE), a nonprofit organization that operated a food site under Feeding Our Future.

Lul Bashir Ali, Faribault, owner of Lido Restaurant, a food site and meal vendor that purported to provide and serve meals at the Somali American Faribault Education site.

Mulata Ali, manager of Franklyn Transportation in Minneapolis, which was previously identified as a shell company funneling food-aid money.

Kawsar Jama, Eagan, principal of Gedo Community Services and Ahlan Childcare Center Inc.

Abdikadir Kadiye, Plymouth, president of Hobyo Health Care Foundation.

 

Abdulkadir Awale, Bloomington, principal of Karmel Coffee and Sambusa King, and the chief executive officer of Nawal Restaurant.

Khadra Abdi, principal of Shafi’i Tutoring and Homework Help Center.

Ayan Farah Abukar, founder and executive director of Action for East African People, a nonprofit that provided health, housing, and education services to East Africans across Minnesota. The defendant used the nonprofit to enroll multiple food sites.

Sade Osman Hashi, chief executive officer of Great Lakes Inc., a food site that also operated as a vendor called Safari Express.

Sharon Ross, executive director of House of Refuge Outreach, a nonprofit organization in St. Paul.

 

 

A lot of Muslims on that list. 

[Hardcore troubadour 15,949]

14 minutes ago, Maximum Overkill said:

A lot of Muslims on that list. 

Sharon Ross. Strange bedfellows. 

[weepaws 3,376]

Fraud in government, no.