Kenyan man accused of stealing Sh142.7 million from US child feeding programme arrested

Kenyan man accused of stealing Sh142.7 million from US child feeding programme arrested

Shaakir Mohamud Ibrahim was arrested after nearly 10 months on the run in Kenya over an alleged Sh142.7 million fraud involving a US government programme for feeding vulnerable children.

A Kenyan man accused of defrauding a US government programme designed to provide meals to vulnerable children of more than Sh142 million has been arrested in the United States after spending nearly 10 months on the run in Kenya.

Shaakir Mohamud Ibrahim, 54, was arrested on September 30, a day after a federal grand jury indicted him over his alleged involvement in a $1.1 million (Sh142.7 million) fraud scheme in Minnesota.

According to the US Department of Justice, Ibrahim faces three charges: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering.

Prosecutors allege that he worked with other suspects to fraudulently obtain money through the Federal Child Nutrition Programme, which reimburses organisations for providing meals to children.

The alleged scheme involved two locations in Minnesota: Bilaal Mosque in Pelican Rapids and the Multicultural Resource Centre (MRC) in Moorhead.

Investigators say the organisations claimed to have served more than 3,000 meals to children every day at each location over a period of four months.

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However, prosecutors allege that the meal figures and attendance records submitted to Feeding Our Future, the non-profit organisation that sponsored the meal sites, were falsified.

The claims enabled the group to secure more than $1.1 million in government reimbursements, funds intended to support children in need.

Investigators further allege that Ibrahim used large cheques paid to himself and his son to move his share of the proceeds.

He is also accused of using some of the money to purchase property in Kenya and a vehicle.

The case is part of the wider Feeding Our Future scandal, one of the largest alleged fraud schemes involving US federal funding intended to provide meals to children.

The programme was expanded during the Covid-19 pandemic to help organisations provide food to children in need. However, prosecutors later uncovered allegations that some participants had submitted falsified records and claimed reimbursements for meals that were never served.

In September 2022, US prosecutors announced charges against 47 people over an alleged $250 million fraud involving the programme.

The investigation has since widened, with several other individuals facing prosecution over allegations of falsifying records, illegally obtaining government funds and laundering the proceeds.

Ibrahim's case is being handled by Assistant US Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy and Austin L. Bowyer.

The investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation division and the US Postal Inspection Service.

The arrest comes as American authorities intensify efforts to tackle fraud involving taxpayer-funded programmes, including schemes in which suspects are accused of moving proceeds across international borders.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter recently warned that the government would pursue individuals suspected of stealing public funds.

US Attorney for the District of Minnesota Daniel N. Rosen also said authorities were determined to protect money intended to support vulnerable members of society.

Ibrahim's indictment adds to a growing number of prosecutions linked to the alleged misuse of American public funds, as investigators continue pursuing individuals suspected of benefiting from the schemes.