A Feeding Our Future suspect who was announced on the FBI’s top 10 most wanted fraudsters list earlier this month has turned himself in to authorities.
Said Abdullahi Ereg, who was indicted in 2024 and has been a fugitive since then, surrendered to FBI agents at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, United States Attorney Daniel Rosen announced in a statement and corresponding press conference the same day.
Ereg is facing charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.
On June 4, 2026, the FBI announced the launch of its Most Wanted Fraudsters list, proposed by Vice President JD Vance, publicly identifying Ereg as a fugitive from justice. The next day, Ereg communicated through counsel his desire to return to the United States. FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) facilitated Ereg’s travel from Kenya via London to Minneapolis, the U.S. attorney said.
The U.S. attorney detailed that Ereg exploited the federal Child Nutrition Program during the COVID-19 pandemic and was involved in obtaining, misappropriating, and laundering millions of dollars in program funds that were meant to feed children in need. He ran a grocery and deli in Minneapolis and was under the sponsorship of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future (FOF). A federal arrest warrant was issued for Ereg after he was charged, but he was not arrested as he was living overseas and his exact whereabouts were unknown.
According to court documents, Ereg owned and operated Evergreen Grocery and Deli, a for-profit business that participated in the federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of FOF. From approximately April 2020 to April 2021, Ereg is alleged to have defrauded the program by submitting false reimbursement claims, for which he received more than $4.2 million in federal Child Nutrition Program funds. At times, Evergreen Grocery and Deli claimed to have served more than 3,000 meals, twice a day, seven days a week. Ereg’s wife, Najmo Ahmed, also worked at the business and received payroll payments directly from FOF. Ahmed pleaded guilty on Feb. 24, 2025, to one count of money laundering. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2026, by United States District Court Judge Nancy Brasel.
The Department of Justice in April announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, which is focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The department’s work to combat fraud supports President Donald Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs, the U.S. attorney’s statement said.
Rosen indicated during his press conference that his office believes Ereg’s surrender was directly related to Vice President Vance’s announcement that Ereg had been added to the most wanted fraudsters list.
FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dotson praised the cooperation between the DOJ, FBI, IRS, and USPIS, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in bringing the alleged fraudsters to justice. “Ereg was one of eight fugitives added to the FBI’s newly announced fraud list just six days ago and is the first to be taken into custody to face charges for his alleged actions,” Dotson said.
U.S. Attorney Rosen said Ereg is expected to make his first appearance in federal court on Thursday.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
