Minnesota fraud: 2 more people plead guilty in Feeding Our Future scheme

Feeding our Future: 2 more defendants plead guilty to wire fraud

Three defendants appeared in Minneapolis Federal Court on Wednesday for change of plea hearings connected to the Feeding our Future fraud scheme. Two pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, another did not accept a plea and will go to trial on April 7. FOX 9's Rob Olson was in court, and had the latest on All Day.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Two more people pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Minneapolis Federal court to one count of wire fraud in the Feeding Our Future fraud case.

Feeding Our Future plea hearings

The backstory:

The first charges in the Feeding Our Future scheme came down in 2022 and the scheme involves accusations of stealing over $250 million intended for pandemic relief to feed children. Since then, 79 people have been charged, with most pleading guilty or being convicted at trial.

On Wednesday, Ikram Mohamed and Shakur Abdi-Salam appeared in Minneapolis Federal Court in change-of-plea hearings set, and both pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. A third defendant, Gandi Mohamed, rejected a plea agreement and will head to trial on April 7.

In total, seven defendants are currently slated for trial in April. However, six of them could still reach plea agreements this week, with the remaining four hearings scheduled for Friday.

Dig deeper:

Wednesday’s change of pleas would secure two more convictions and help avoid trials, as the U.S. Attorney's office faces staffing challenges. More than a dozen federal prosecutors have resigned this year amid concerns over the Justice Department’s handling of Operation Metro Surge. 

Earlier this month, federal prosecutors said they needed more time to prepare for a separate Feeding Our Future trial scheduled for June, citing staffing changes and the demands of the upcoming April trial.

"Given the April trial, which involves seven defendants and is expected to be lengthy, counsel for the government will not be able to adequately prepare for the trial in this matter," prosecutors said. 

What's next:

The other four change of plea hearings are scheduled to take place on Friday.