Minnesota Man Gets 28 Years for Pandemic-Era Food Fraud
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — A Minnesota man has been sentenced to 28 years in federal prison for orchestrating one of the most significant fraud schemes to emerge from pandemic relief efforts, stealing tens of millions from a federal child nutrition program.
Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, 36, was sentenced on Wednesday and ordered to pay nearly $48 million in restitution for his central role in the Feeding Our Future scandal, which authorities say siphoned off $300 million in federal funds meant to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Farah was convicted last year on 23 of 24 counts, including wire fraud, federal programs bribery, and money laundering, after a high-profile trial that exposed a sprawling criminal operation. Prosecutors say Farah led a network of fraudulent sites that claimed to serve meals to thousands of children per day—but in reality, no food was ever delivered.
Massive Fraud, Falsified Records
Federal prosecutors revealed that Farah and his associates falsified meal counts, created fake invoices, and even invented nonexistent children’s names to support their claims. The fraud was executed under the guise of pandemic-era emergency funding, which allowed food vendors to bypass standard regulatory scrutiny.
Farah personally pocketed over $8 million within an 18-month period. He used the money to purchase:
- Five luxury vehicles
- Real estate in Minnesota
- Property in Kenya
Authorities also allege that Farah laundered stolen money through China, placing some assets beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement.
Bribery and “Pay-to-Play” Tactics
In addition to stealing from the nutrition program, Farah was also implicated in a jury tampering scheme. After his conviction, he pleaded guilty in a separate case involving an attempt to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash delivered in a bag.
Prosecutors claim that Farah ran the operation as a “pay-to-play” scheme, directing stolen funds to co-conspirators in exchange for their loyalty and silence. At sentencing, Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson blasted Farah for “robbing us blind” and causing “untold damage” to Minnesota communities by exploiting a program meant to help vulnerable children.
Farah Among Dozens Charged
The Feeding Our Future case has led to charges against 73 individuals, with 51 already convicted. Many were tied to nonprofit organizations or businesses that claimed to distribute meals to children across Minnesota.
The case has drawn national attention due to the sheer size of the fraud and the exploitation of a program designed to offer relief during a global crisis. Prosecutors have described it as one of the largest pandemic-related fraud investigations in the country.
Farah is considered one of the key figures in the scheme. His sentencing is the harshest to date and sets a precedent for others awaiting trial or sentencing. The case also highlights the systemic failures that allowed such fraudulent claims to go undetected for so long, including weakened oversight in emergency federal programs.
More Prison Time Possible
Farah’s legal troubles are not over. A second sentencing hearing will determine additional prison time for his juror bribery conviction, which may extend his current 28-year sentence.
Calls and emails to Farah’s defense attorney seeking comment were not returned, according to the Associated Press.
With authorities still tracking international assets and financial trails, the case continues to evolve as law enforcement seeks to recover stolen funds and hold others accountable.
