Not even a big bag of cash could stop five people in Minnesota from being convicted in a scam to steal $40 million from a children’s food program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, Mohamed Jama Ismail, Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff and Hayat Mohamed Nur were found guilty Friday of trying to cheat state-run initiatives funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through efforts that included operating sham shell companies, manufacturing invoices for meals never received, money laundering and arranging kickbacks, according to The Associated Press.
The case was complicated when “juror #52” was dismissed earlier this week after reporting to police the day before the trial went to deliberations that a woman showed up at her house with “a present” that wound up being a bag containing $120,000 cash.
That juror was told more money would be delivered if a not guilty verdict was reached. Investigators have not determined the source of the alleged bribe.
More than 60 other people are expected to stand trial in Minnesota in what’s believed to be one of the nation’s largest COVID-related frauds. Around $250 million appears to have been taken from the food program. Only 20% of that money has been recovered.
Prosecutors blame opportunistic predators for exploiting weakened checks and balances during the pandemic, when speedily getting resources to people in need was paramount nationwide.
The Associated Press reported last year that fraudsters across the country may have stolen a total of more than $280 billion in federal funding during the national emergency. Another $123 billion appears to have been mismanaged.
With News Wire Services
