ROCHESTER, Minn. (FOX 9) - A Rochester woman who admitted to laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in the massive $300 million Feeding our Future scheme has been sentenced to six months in prison and is being forced to pay back more than $491,000.
Sentencing and restitution details for Zamzam Jama
What we know:
Zamzam Jama, 50, was sentenced Tuesday to serve six months in prison and must pay more than $491,000 in restitution for her involvement in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.
What's next:
She is required to surrender to the U.S. Marshal by June 2 to begin her sentence.
Brava restaurant scheme
The backstory:
Jama pleaded guilty on February 5, 2025, to one count of money laundering after admitting she deposited at least $491,245 in misappropriated federal funds into her shell company’s bank account, then used the money for personal expenses unrelated to feeding children.
Jama spent some of the stolen funds on a home in Rosemount, Minnesota, and a 2021 Toyota RAV4.
Local perspective:
In October 2020, the Jamas enrolled Brava Restaurant in Rochester, Minn. as a distribution site in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under Feeding Our Future’s sponsorship. The Jamas and their associates registered six shell companies to funnel the federal funds.
Mustafa Jama used the money to buy homes in Columbus, Ohio, and Lakeville, Minnesota, as well as property in Turkey. Asha Jama spent the funds on homes in Lakeville and Rochester. Both also forfeited property and funds as part of their guilty pleas.