Minnesota fraud suspect arrested in Somalia after 4 years on the run, officials say

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MINNEAPOLIS — An alleged person of the largest pandemic-era fraud strategy successful the state was arrested overseas aft being connected the tally for much than 4 years, according to national officials.

Abdikerm Eidleh, 43, was arrested successful Mogadishu, Somalia, earlier this week successful a daytime raid coordinated by some the FBI and Somali quality agencies. He was indicted successful September 2022 arsenic portion of the sweeping $250 cardinal Feeding Our Future fraud investigation.

"This is simply a large fish," Daniel Rosen, U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, told CBS News. "Eidleh was a cardinal person and was liable for bribing and recruiting concern to bargain from the American taxpayer."

Rosen said Eidleh was "second successful command" to Aimee Bock, the convicted ringleader of the scheme, who was conscionable sentenced to much than 40 years successful prison.

Investigators allege Eidleh personally collected $5 cardinal successful bribes and kickbacks aft instructing restaurants and catering businesses to inflate receipts submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education for reimbursement.

"This shows the planetary scope and outstretched limb of American instrumentality enforcement," said Christopher Dotson, FBI Special Agent successful Charge astatine FBI Minneapolis. "Somalia is not the harmless haven you whitethorn deliberation it is."

So acold prosecutors person charged 79 people, astir of Somali descent, successful the Feeding Our Future case. Of those, 66 person been convicted oregon pleading guilty.

Dozens of others person besides been charged successful Minnesota successful a scope of alleged schemes to defraud taxpayer-funded societal work programs, including childcare, lodging and behavioral health.

Rosen antecedently told CBS News the full magnitude of fraud successful Minnesota could apical $1 billion.

"The section for Feeding Our Future mightiness beryllium closing, but we're inactive successful the opening of making definite we support the American taxpayer," Rosen said

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