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Fraud in Minnesota

MPR News
What's the deal with fraud in Minnesota? The Feeding Our Future scandal, explained.

Fraud in Minnesota has become a flashpoint for incendiary comments about Somali-Americans by President Donald Trump, as well as a sticking point in the 2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election. It's also resulted in a fair bit of misinformation and disinformation in the news.

After 5 weeks, Feeding Our Future trial wraps with closing arguments

After 5 weeks, Feeding Our Future trial wraps with closing arguments

Since late 2022, federal prosecutors in Minnesota have charged dozens of people in connection with what they allege was a widespread conspiracy to steal $250 million by falsifying reimbursement requests for 18 million meals. Closing arguments are Monday.
by Matt Sepic

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Food fraud defendant testifies as others stay quiet

Food fraud defendant testifies as others stay quiet

In a surprise move on Wednesday, one of the defendants in the Feeding Our Future trial took the stand in his own defense. Unlike the six others, Mukhtar Shariff not only called witnesses, but waived his right to remain silent.
by Matt Sepic

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Defense set to present case after prosecution rests in Feeding Our Future trial

Defense set to present case after prosecution rests in Feeding Our Future trial

Prosecutors have rested their case in the trial of seven people accused of defrauding taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs. They haven’t said that all of the financial transactions were fraudulent, only that the vast majority were.
by Matt Sepic

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FBI number crunchers track taxpayer cash to house, vehicle purchases in Feeding Our Future trial

FBI number crunchers track taxpayer cash to house, vehicle purchases in Feeding Our Future trial

A final witness for the prosecution in the Feeding Our Future trial told jurors how she traced the defendants’ alleged purchases of vehicles, property and airline tickets back to taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs.
by Matt Sepic

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‘Rgian Pumqr’ and ‘Jeffrey Dharmer’ among names on Feeding Our Future meal lists

‘Rgian Pumqr’ and ‘Jeffrey Dharmer’ among names on Feeding Our Future meal lists

An investigator said identical names appeared over and over, in many cases as part of payment claims for meals served simultaneously at distribution sites miles apart. He said that the same 122 children were listed in reimbursement requests for meals served in April 2021.
by Matt Sepic

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Jurors in Feeding Our Future case see defendants’ long text trail

Jurors in Feeding Our Future case see defendants’ long text trail

Jurors in federal court in Minneapolis were shown hundreds of WhatsApp text messages in which operators of food distribution sites allegedly discussed how to divvy up money that they stole from government child nutrition programs.
by Matt Sepic

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Feeding Our Future witness says he helped set up fake meal sites during the pandemic

Feeding Our Future witness says he helped set up fake meal sites during the pandemic

A former Feeding Our Future employee said in a federal courtroom in Minneapolis that he conspired with others at the Twin Cities nonprofit to steal money from government child nutrition programs. He said he received kickbacks disguised as consultant payments.
by Matt Sepic

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‘Not possible’ to deliver as many meals as Feeding Our Future defendants claimed, school official says

‘Not possible’ to deliver as many meals as Feeding Our Future defendants claimed, school official says

A Shakopee school district official testified Monday that it would have been impossible to deliver food in the quantities allegedly claimed by the defendants in the Feeding Our Future trial.
by Matt Sepic

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Sharp growth raised ‘red flags’ about meal program fraud, state official testifies

Sharp growth raised ‘red flags’ about meal program fraud, state official testifies

A state regulator testified in the first Feeding Our Future trial Tuesday that she was concerned after seeing massive growth in reimbursement requests through child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
by Matt Sepic

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