First Sentence Issued in Massive Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

(KNSI) — The first sentence has been handed down to a defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.

Mohamed Jama Ismail will spend 12 years in federal prison and pay nearly $48 million in restitution. The 51-year-old was convicted in June after a six-week trial. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering.

Ismail, 51, of Savage, owned and operated Empire Cuisine and Market LLC, a for-profit restaurant. He used his business and others to launder proceeds from the program meant to feed starving children during the pandemic straight into his pocket. Prosecutors say Ismail and his co-defendants received over $40 million in ill-gotten Federal Child Nutrition Program funds by creating and submitting fake attendance rosters listing the names and ages of fictitious children allegedly receiving meals at the sites each day.

More than 70 people are accused of bilking the government out of $250 million. It’s been called the largest COVID-19 scam in the country.

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