MINNEAPOLIS (KFGO) – Another defendant in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
According to court documents, 50-year-old Abdulkadir Awale of Bloomington admitted that from April 2020 through 2022, he knowingly and fraudulently received and spent millions of dollars in funds meant as reimbursement for serving meals to needy children.
Court records show Awale claimed his three businesses served more than 3.6 million meals at various sites in Minnesota and he was reimbursed for $11.8 million.
Awale also paid kickbacks totaling more than $83,000 to a Feeding Our Future employee in exchange for participation in the program.
Awale used the money to, among other things, pay off his mortgage, withdraw cash, and buy vehicles. He agreed to pay restitution of over $2 million.
