As the investigation into the nation’s largest COVID-19 relief scandal continues, federal authorities have officially named the 79th defendant. This update comes as the total alleged theft in the Feeding Our Future scheme is now estimated to exceed $300 million.
Below is the latest update on the case, how the fraud was carried out, and the full list of individuals charged as of February 2026.
Latest Update: 79th Person Charged (Feb 2026)
Federal prosecutors have filed wire fraud charges against Fahima Mahamud, 50, of Minneapolis.
- The Allegation: Mahamud operated the Future Leaders Early Learning Center in Minneapolis.
- The Scheme: Documents show the site initially claimed modest reimbursements (under $10,000/month). However, by mid-2021, the center claimed to be serving over 1,000 children per day.
- The Money: Future Leaders received more than $850,000 in federal funds, but investigators found the site spent only about $125,000 on actual food, meaning the reimbursement was six times the actual cost of meals.
- The Arrest: Mahamud was arrested on February 12, 2026, allegedly while preparing to board a flight to London.
How the Fraud Happened: A “Brazen” Betrayal
The scheme exploited the Federal Child Nutrition Program, which was designed to feed underserved children during the pandemic.
- Exploiting Waivers: During COVID-19, the USDA waived rules to allow for-profit restaurants to serve food off-site.
- The “Sponsor” Loophole: The nonprofit Feeding Our Future served as a sponsor, meaning it was responsible for overseeing local food sites. Instead of oversight, they allegedly recruited people to open “shell” locations.
- Fake Names & Randomizers: Defendants used websites like
listofrandomnames.comto create fake attendance rosters. Some even used Excel formulas to assign random ages to children who didn’t exist. - “Discrimination” as a Shield: When the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) tried to stop payments due to suspicious numbers, Aimee Bock and Feeding Our Future sued the state, claiming racial discrimination to force the payments to continue.
The Complete List of Defendants (1–79)
The following individuals have been charged across multiple indictments and criminal informations since 2022.
The Leadership & Feeding Our Future Staff
- Aimee Marie Bock: Founder/Director (Convicted March 2025)
- Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh: Fled the country; remains a fugitive.
- Hadith Yusuf Ahmed: Pled Guilty.
- Hanna Marekegn: Pled Guilty.
- Bekam Addissu Merdassa: Pled Guilty.
The Safari Restaurant & Stigma-Free Group
- Salim Ahmed Said: (Convicted March 2025)
- Abdulkadir Nur Salah: Convicted.
- Ahmed Sharif Omar-Hashim: Convicted.
- Abdi Nur Salah: Former aide to Minneapolis Mayor; Convicted.
- Abdihakim Ali Ahmed
- Ahmed Mohamed Artan
- Abdikadir Ainanshe Mohamud
- Abdinasir Mahamed Abshir
- Asad Mohamed Abshir
- Hamdi Hussein Omar
- Ahmed Abdullahi Ghedi
- Abdirahman Mohamud Ahmed
The Empire Cuisine & Market Group
- Abdiaziz Shafii Farah: Convicted (Sentenced to 12 years).
- Mohamed Jama Ismail: Convicted (Sentenced to 12 years).
- Mahad Ibrahim
- Abdimajid Mohamed Nur: Sentenced to 10 years.
- Said Shafii Farah
- Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin
- Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff
- Hayat Mohamed Nur
S & S Catering / Youth Inventors Lab
- Qamar Ahmed Hassan
- Sahra Mohamed Nur
- Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud
- Filsan Mumin Hassan
- Guhaad Hashi Said
- Abdullahe Nur Jesow
- Abdul Abubakar Ali
- Yusuf Bashir Ali
Haji’s Kitchen & Partners
- Haji Osman Salad
- Fahad Nur
- Anab Artan Awad
- Sharmarke Issa
- Farhiya Mohamud
JigJiga Business Center & Brava Restaurant
- Liban Yasin Alishire: Pled Guilty.
- Ahmed Yasin Ali
- Khadar Jigre Adan
- Sharmake Jama
- Ayan Jama
- Asha Jama
- Fartun Jama
- Mustafa Jama
- Zamzam Jama
Recent 2025–2026 Indictments
- Abdirashid Bixi Dool (78th): Charged Nov 2024 (Bilaal Mosque/Multicultural Resource Center).
- Fahima Mahamud (79th): Charged Feb 2026 (Future Leaders Early Learning Center).
