A man accused of playing a leading role in the largest COVID-19 pandemic-related fraud scheme in U.S. history has been arrested in Somalia after evading authorities for more than four years.
Federal officials announced that Abdikerm Eidleh, 42, was taken into custody Thursday in Mogadishu during a coordinated daytime operation involving the FBI and Somali intelligence agencies. Eidleh had been indicted in September 2022 in connection with the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud investigation.
U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Daniel Rosen described Eidleh as one of the principal figures behind the scheme.
“This is a big fish,” Rosen said. “Eidleh was a key leader who recruited businesses and facilitated the theft of millions of dollars from American taxpayers through bribery and fraudulent reimbursement claims.”
Prosecutors allege Eidleh served as the second-in-command to Aimee Bock, founder of Feeding Our Future, who was recently sentenced to more than 40 years in federal prison for orchestrating the scheme.
According to court documents, Eidleh collected approximately $5 million in bribes and kickbacks by directing restaurants and catering companies to submit inflated meal reimbursement claims to the Minnesota Department of Education. He faces multiple federal charges, including wire fraud, bribery involving federal programs, money laundering, and conspiracy.
FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dotson said the arrest demonstrates the international reach of U.S. law enforcement.
“This operation shows that individuals accused of defrauding the American people cannot assume they are beyond the reach of justice,” Dotson said.
The Feeding Our Future investigation has resulted in charges against 79 individuals, the majority of whom are of Somali descent. So far, 66 defendants have either been convicted or pleaded guilty.
The case is part of a broader effort by federal prosecutors to investigate alleged fraud involving taxpayer-funded programs in Minnesota, including childcare, housing, and behavioral health services.
Federal prosecutors have previously estimated that fraud across these public assistance programs in Minnesota could exceed $1 billion.
While prosecutions in the Feeding Our Future case continue, Rosen said authorities remain committed to pursuing additional fraud investigations and recovering taxpayer funds.
