In federal court in Minneapolis, jurors were shown hundreds of WhatsApp messages allegedly discussing the distribution of money stolen from government child nutrition programs. The FBI searched multiple locations connected to the fraud, recovering electronic devices and cell phones. Messages extracted from the phones were presented in court, revealing discussions between Abdiaziz Farah and Mahad Ibrahim on how to divide money from Feeding Our Future and Partners in Nutrition.
Ibrahim allegedly used his nonprofit, ThinkTechAct Foundation, to operate fake distribution sites. Messages between Farah and Ibrahim discussed upcoming payments and their plans to become millionaires. The jury also saw messages between Farah and his brother Said, discussing money distribution and sharing banking documents.
Testimony from Dinna Wade-Ardley revealed that the defendants submitted invoices for meals that were not served in the Bloomington schools. Wade-Ardley regretted vouching for Mukhtar Shariff, one of the defendants, and expressed that the stolen money could have helped children in need.
The prosecution will continue presenting witnesses after a break, with the defense expected to present their case next week. The defense portrayed the defendants as hard-working immigrants who served real food to kids. The seven defendants in this trial are accused of stealing $47 million in a larger conspiracy to steal $250 million from child nutrition programs.
Since September 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s office has charged 70 people, with 18 pleading guilty. The trial sheds light on the alleged fraud in government child nutrition programs and the significant impact it can have on children in need.
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