FUGITIVE IN $4.2 MILLION FEEDING OUR FUTURE FRAUD CASE SURRENDERS TO FBI AFTER APPEARING ON MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS LIST

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A man accused of stealing millions of dollars from a federal child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic has surrendered to federal authorities after spending nearly two years outside the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.

Said Abdullahi Ereg surrendered peacefully to FBI agents on June 10 at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. Federal prosecutors charged Ereg in June 2024 for his alleged role in the massive Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, one of the largest pandemic-related fraud investigations in United States history.

Ereg faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The charges stem from allegations that he fraudulently obtained more than $4.2 million through the Federal Child Nutrition Program, a federally funded initiative designed to provide meals to children in need.

According to court documents, Ereg owned and operated Evergreen Grocery and Deli in Minneapolis, which participated in the program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future, a Minnesota nonprofit organization that served as a program sponsor for numerous meal distribution sites throughout the state.

Federal investigators allege that between April 2020 and April 2021, Ereg submitted false reimbursement claims for meals that were never served. Prosecutors claim Evergreen Grocery and Deli reported serving thousands of meals per day, at times claiming more than 3,000 meals twice daily, seven days a week.

Authorities allege the reimbursement requests generated millions of dollars in federal funds that were intended to feed children during a period when schools and communities were facing significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Court records indicate that Ereg remained overseas after charges were filed and that federal authorities were unable to determine his exact location for an extended period. An arrest warrant was issued following his indictment.

The case gained renewed attention on June 4 when the FBI launched its newly established Most Wanted Fraudsters List and publicly identified Ereg as one of the fugitives being sought by federal authorities. According to prosecutors, Ereg contacted authorities through legal counsel the following day and expressed a desire to return to the United States.

Federal officials describe the Feeding Our Future investigation as one of the largest fraud cases ever prosecuted in Minnesota. The broader investigation centers on allegations that dozens of individuals exploited emergency pandemic-era nutrition programs by creating fictitious meal sites, inflating meal counts, falsifying attendance records, and diverting federal funds intended to feed children.

According to prosecutors, hundreds of millions of dollars flowed through the program during the pandemic, with significant portions allegedly diverted for personal enrichment, luxury purchases, real estate acquisitions, and other unauthorized uses.

Court records also indicate that Ereg’s wife, Najmo Ahmed, worked at Evergreen Grocery and Deli and received payroll payments directly from Feeding Our Future. Ahmed pleaded guilty in February 2025 to one count of money laundering and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2026.

The Department of Justice recently announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, a specialized unit focused on investigating and prosecuting fraud schemes targeting federal programs and taxpayer-funded benefits. The initiative supports the federal government’s broader efforts to identify fraud, recover stolen funds, and pursue criminal prosecutions involving public assistance programs.

FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson said Ereg was one of eight fugitives added to the newly announced Most Wanted Fraudsters List and became the first individual on the list to be taken into custody.

Homeland Security Investigations Minneapolis/St. Paul Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy stated that the surrender demonstrates that individuals accused of exploiting programs designed to assist children and families can still face prosecution even after leaving the United States.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Kline, Matthew Murphy, and Austin Bowyer are prosecuting the case.

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