MOGADISHU – Somali intelligence authorities, working in coordination with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have arrested a man accused of playing a major role in a massive pandemic-relief fraud scheme that allegedly stole more than $250 million from a U.S. child nutrition program.
Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, was arrested in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, after spending nearly four years as a fugitive, according to U.S. prosecutors.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Eidleh was apprehended through close cooperation between the FBI and Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). He is accused of being a central figure in the so-called Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, one of the largest pandemic-related fraud cases in U.S. history.
Prosecutors allege that Eidleh helped establish fraudulent meal distribution sites and shell companies that falsely claimed to be serving thousands of meals to children each day during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fraudulent claims allegedly enabled conspirators to obtain millions of dollars in federal reimbursements intended to support vulnerable children.
U.S. authorities described Eidleh as a close associate of Aimee Bock, the founder of Feeding Our Future, who was convicted in connection with the scheme. Investigators say that more than $5 million in fraud proceeds passed through companies linked to Eidleh.
According to court documents, he faces 31 criminal charges, including wire fraud, bribery, money laundering and conspiracy.
“Those who steal from American taxpayers cannot escape justice by fleeing overseas,” U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen said in a statement following the arrest.
The FBI praised Somali authorities for their assistance in locating and apprehending the suspect, highlighting growing cooperation between the two countries in combating transnational crime.
The Feeding Our Future case has led to charges against dozens of individuals and is widely regarded as the largest pandemic-related fraud investigation in the history of the U.S. state of Minnesota.
Eidleh is expected to face extradition proceedings before being transferred to the United States to stand trial.
