The sprawling $250 million “Feeding Our Future” federal food aid fraud case in Minnesota has seen another significant development, with a key defendant pleading guilty just before his scheduled trial. This legal action unfolds concurrently with a high-profile political moment: the endorsement of Minneapolis mayoral candidate State Senator Omar Fateh by U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar. Both political figures have faced public scrutiny regarding their connections, direct or indirect, to individuals and entities involved in the massive fraud schemes that have plagued the state.
Latest Development in Feeding Our Future: Abdiwahab Mohamud Pleads Guilty
On Friday, October 10, 2025, Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Mohamud was the last of his group of eight co-defendants to reach a plea deal.
The Allegations: Mohamud was accused of being the “chief document fabricator” for S&S Catering, a business that prosecutors allege siphoned over $17 million from the federal child nutrition program by submitting phony invoices and false meal count forms.
The Financial Scope: Mohamud admitted to helping steal more than $17 million in taxpayer dollars intended for feeding children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Witness Tampering: The plea came after Mohamud was ordered jailed earlier in the week on accusations of witness tampering. Prosecutors alleged he confronted a cooperating co-defendant, calling her a “snitch” and pressuring her not to testify against him at his trial, which was slated to begin next week. His plea agreement suggests a potential prison term of 11 to 14 years.
The “Feeding Our Future” scandal exploited the Federal Child Nutrition Program, which had its rules loosened during the pandemic to ensure children had access to meals. The non-profit at the center, Feeding Our Future, dramatically increased its federal funding from approximately $3.4 million in 2019 to nearly $200 million in 2021. Federal prosecutors allege that of the funding granted to the meal sites, only around 3% was spent on food, with the rest being funneled to conspirators. The total alleged fraud is estimated to be at least $250 million.
As of late 2025, over 50 out of 73 indicted suspects have pleaded guilty in the fraud, with others convicted at trial, including Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock and restaurant owner Salim Said.
Omar Endorses Omar: Political Connections Under the Microscope
The ongoing legal fallout provides the backdrop to a significant political endorsement in the Minneapolis mayoral race: Representative Ilhan Omar has formally endorsed State Senator Omar Fateh.
The Endorsement: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar has publicly backed State Senator Omar Fateh, calling him “a champion for working people” in his bid to unseat incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey.
Campaign Contributions and Connections to Feeding Our Future: Both politicians have faced scrutiny regarding campaign contributions from individuals later charged in the Feeding Our Future case.
Senator Fateh returned $11,000 in campaign donations linked to the non-profit. He was previously criticized for having supported the organization in 2021, before the FBI raids, though he later stated he was frustrated that “providers were lying” to him.
Mayor Frey’s campaign also returned donations after donors were named in search warrants, and a former campaign aide, Abdi Nur Salah, later pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with the scheme.
The endorsements and political dynamics are further complicated by the fact that many of the charged and convicted defendants in the case are members of the Somali American community in Minnesota.
Former Omar Aide Pleads Guilty in Related Scheme
Adding to the connections in the news cycle, a former aide who worked for Representative Ilhan Omar’s campaign has also been tied to the fraud.
A former aide, Guad Hassi Said, has reportedly pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the federal child nutrition program.Prosecutors alleged that Said, under the company name Advanced Youth Athletic Development, was involved in a scheme to falsify meal counts to illegally obtain government funds.
Representative Omar co-introduced initial legislation during the pandemic to make the child nutrition program more flexible, an action she took in her official capacity to expand access to free and subsidized meals.
Ethical Concerns Mount for Senator Omar Fateh
Aside from the Feeding Our Future controversy, Senator Omar Fateh has faced separate ethical questions related to a bill he sponsored in the Minnesota Senate.
DateBill & ProgramAllegation/ControversyOutcome
March 2025Senate File 2741 for the Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program.Fateh, as the sole author, introduced a bill to fast-track client approvals for HSS, a Medicaid-funded program.The bill did not pass out of committee.
Time of Bill IntroHSS ProgramA subsequent investigation revealed that Fateh’s wife, Kaltum Mohamed, was the listed owner of a Housing Stabilization company, Community Development Services LLC, at the time he introduced the bill.The company reportedly never billed Medicaid, and no evidence of billing fraud was found. However, a legal expert called the lack of disclosure a serious ethical concern, as the bill would have directly benefited the HSS industry, which his wife was involved in.
Post-BillDFL EndorsementThe Minnesota DFL revoked its endorsement of Fateh for the mayoral race due to convention irregularities concerning the voting system.Fateh’s campaign continues to use the term “DFL endorsed” on some materials, claiming he is benefiting from a “backlash” against the DFL’s decision.
The Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program, which Fateh’s bill sought to impact, also came under intense scrutiny for widespread fraud, ballooning from $3 million in 2020 to $91 million in 2024. Following federal raids on HSS businesses, the program was ultimately terminated by the state.