FBI Director Kash Patel stated on December 28, 2025, that the agency deployed personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to 'dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs,' according to a Reuters report shared between 4:15 PM and 5:15 PM UTC. The announcement builds on an FBI statement posted by @FBIDirectorKash between 3:46 PM and 4:15 PM UTC detailing a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited federal food aid for vulnerable children in Minnesota during COVID-19, resulting in 78 indictments and 57 convictions. The scheme centered on sham vendors, shell companies, and money laundering connected to the Feeding Our Future network, the FBI reported. Defendants such as Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud, Ahmed Ali, Hussein Farah, Abdullahe Nur Jesow, Asha Farhan Hassan, Ousman Camara, and Abdirashid Bixi Dool faced charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. Abdimajid Mohamed Nur and others pleaded guilty to attempting to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash, with one defendant receiving a 10-year prison term and nearly $48 million in restitution, according to the FBI. The agency noted it surged personnel to Minnesota ahead of recent social media reports on the issue, calling fraud that steals from taxpayers and children a top national priority. The investigation continues, with additional referrals to immigration officials for potential denaturalization and deportation.
