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FBI Arrests Minnesota Fraud Suspect Abdikerm Eidleh in Somalia
On June 25, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, a 42‑year‑old resident of Burnsville, Minnesota, in Mogadishu, Somalia. Eidleh was charged in 2022 with 31 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, federal programs bribery, and money laundering, as part of the Feeding Our Future scheme that siphoned $250 million from the Federal Child Nutrition Program.
Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit founded in 2016, claimed to distribute meals to schoolchildren during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Federal prosecutors say the organization diverted funds intended for child nutrition to private accounts and used the money for personal expenses, such as luxury vehicles and real estate. The scheme involved 79 suspects; 56 pled guilty, seven were convicted at trial, and the remaining defendants await proceedings.
Eidleh was named as the alleged second‑in‑command to Aimee Bock, the founder who was sentenced to 500 months in federal prison in May 2026. The indictment filed on September 13, 2022, lists 31 counts against Eidleh, including wire fraud and money laundering. His arrest ended a four‑year fugitive period that began after his indictment.
The operation that led to the arrest was a joint effort between the FBI and Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency. Officials did not disclose the details of how Eidleh was located, but the Department of Justice confirmed that cooperation between U.S. and Somali authorities resulted in his capture. The arrest was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota on Friday.
The Feeding Our Future case has drawn attention to fraud in federal child nutrition programs. The Federal Child Nutrition Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, distributes funds to state agencies that oversee school meal programs. In Minnesota, state officials had repeatedly attempted to cut off funding to the nonprofit before federal intervention. The scheme’s scale prompted the FBI to conduct raids and file indictments in 2022.
The Minnesota fraud scandal has also highlighted the presence of Somali‑American individuals in the state’s social‑service fraud cases. Following the investigation, the Trump administration launched Operation Metro Surge in late 2025, targeting Somali communities in Minnesota. The arrest of Eidleh is part of a broader federal effort to dismantle the network that facilitated the fraud.
The federal government has continued to pursue other defendants connected to the scheme. In April 2026, two additional suspects pleaded guilty, and in May 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing of Aimee Bock. The Department of Justice has stated that it will pursue remaining defendants and that the investigation remains active.
The impact of the scheme has been significant for children who relied on the federal nutrition program. The diversion of $250 million meant that many schools received fewer meals than promised, affecting nutrition for low‑income students. The federal government has not yet released a full assessment of the program’s losses, but the indictment and subsequent convictions suggest a substantial financial loss.
As of now, Eidleh faces federal charges that could result in a lengthy prison term if convicted. The case is scheduled for trial, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicated that it will seek maximum penalties consistent with federal sentencing guidelines. The arrest also signals to other fugitives that international cooperation can lead to apprehension.
The federal investigation into Feeding Our Future continues to uncover additional individuals involved in the scheme. The Department of Justice remains committed to prosecuting all defendants and restoring the integrity of the Federal Child Nutrition Program. The outcome of the upcoming trial will determine the final legal consequences for Eidleh and may influence future federal oversight of child nutrition funding.
Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit founded in 2016, claimed to distribute meals to schoolchildren during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Federal prosecutors say the organization diverted funds intended for child nutrition to private accounts and used the money for personal expenses, such as luxury vehicles and real estate. The scheme involved 79 suspects; 56 pled guilty, seven were convicted at trial, and the remaining defendants await proceedings.
Eidleh was named as the alleged second‑in‑command to Aimee Bock, the founder who was sentenced to 500 months in federal prison in May 2026. The indictment filed on September 13, 2022, lists 31 counts against Eidleh, including wire fraud and money laundering. His arrest ended a four‑year fugitive period that began after his indictment.
The operation that led to the arrest was a joint effort between the FBI and Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency. Officials did not disclose the details of how Eidleh was located, but the Department of Justice confirmed that cooperation between U.S. and Somali authorities resulted in his capture. The arrest was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota on Friday.
The Feeding Our Future case has drawn attention to fraud in federal child nutrition programs. The Federal Child Nutrition Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, distributes funds to state agencies that oversee school meal programs. In Minnesota, state officials had repeatedly attempted to cut off funding to the nonprofit before federal intervention. The scheme’s scale prompted the FBI to conduct raids and file indictments in 2022.
The Minnesota fraud scandal has also highlighted the presence of Somali‑American individuals in the state’s social‑service fraud cases. Following the investigation, the Trump administration launched Operation Metro Surge in late 2025, targeting Somali communities in Minnesota. The arrest of Eidleh is part of a broader federal effort to dismantle the network that facilitated the fraud.
The federal government has continued to pursue other defendants connected to the scheme. In April 2026, two additional suspects pleaded guilty, and in May 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing of Aimee Bock. The Department of Justice has stated that it will pursue remaining defendants and that the investigation remains active.
The impact of the scheme has been significant for children who relied on the federal nutrition program. The diversion of $250 million meant that many schools received fewer meals than promised, affecting nutrition for low‑income students. The federal government has not yet released a full assessment of the program’s losses, but the indictment and subsequent convictions suggest a substantial financial loss.
As of now, Eidleh faces federal charges that could result in a lengthy prison term if convicted. The case is scheduled for trial, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicated that it will seek maximum penalties consistent with federal sentencing guidelines. The arrest also signals to other fugitives that international cooperation can lead to apprehension.
The federal investigation into Feeding Our Future continues to uncover additional individuals involved in the scheme. The Department of Justice remains committed to prosecuting all defendants and restoring the integrity of the Federal Child Nutrition Program. The outcome of the upcoming trial will determine the final legal consequences for Eidleh and may influence future federal oversight of child nutrition funding.
