Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News) - Two Faribault residents are among the 10 additional people now facing federal charges stemming from the "Feeding our Future" fraud scandal.

US Attorney for Minnesota Andrew Luger today announced the new charges, which he says are contained in four separate indictments and include conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery.

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53-year-old Mohamed Ali Hussein and Lul Bashir Ali of Faribault signed up their restaurant and a group called Somali American Faribault Education to participate in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding our Future. According to the charges, they claimed they were serving more than 3500 children meals daily and received more than $5 million in reimbursements from the federal pandemic nutritional initiative. Hussein is also accused of paying more than $100,000 in kickbacks to a Feeding our Future employee.

The other nine new defendants have addresses in the Twin Cities area:

  • 41-year-old Kawsar Jama of Eagan
  • 51-year-old Abdikadir of Minneapolis
  • 50-year-old Abdulkadir Awate of Bloomington
  • 41-year-old Khadra Abdi a Minneapolis
  • 41-year-old Ayan Farah Abukar of Savage
  • 45-year-old Sase Osman Hashi a Minneapolis
  • 52-year-old Sharon Ross of Being Lake
  • 38-year-old Mulata Yusef Ali Minneapolis
Fraud Investigation, Detective Files
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Luger says the 10 defendants are accused of participating in "a massive scheme to defraud the Federal Child Nutrition Program by obtaining, misappropriating, and laundering millions of dollars in program funds that were intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to children." The charges allege that rather than feed children, the defendants enriched themselves. It's alleged the proceeds from the fraud scheme were used to pay for luxury vehicles, luxury vacations, airplanes, and real estate, including the purchase of a "very large" tract of land in Minnesota.

60 people have been charged in connection with the "Feeding our Future" scandal involving at least $250 million in public funds. Six people have entered guilty pleas to the charges against them. Luger says additional guilty pleas and charges are likely.

(The Minnesota News Network contributed to this story)

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