EIDLEH, Somalia — A central figure in one of the largest fraud cases in Minnesota history has been apprehended in Somalia after evading authorities for more than four years.
Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota, was arrested on June 25, 2026, according to federal officials. He faces 31 federal charges, including wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering, tied to the Feeding Our Future scandal that allegedly defrauded a federal child nutrition program of nearly $250 million during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prosecutors allege that the Minneapolis-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future sponsored more than 250 fraudulent meal sites across Minnesota. These sham operations claimed reimbursements for meals that were never served to children, exploiting emergency waivers in federal child nutrition programs during the pandemic.
Authorities claim Eidleh played a key role in the scheme by recruiting operators for fake meal sites. He allegedly received more than $5 million in kickbacks and laundered the proceeds through a network of shell companies. The funds were reportedly used for luxury purchases while many families struggled during the height of the public health crisis.
The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a case that has drawn national attention for its scale and the apparent ease with which the fraud was carried out. Federal investigators have described it as one of the largest thefts from a child nutrition program in U.S. history.
The development has also renewed scrutiny of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s office. Court documents and trial evidence from related cases have included emails mentioning the congresswoman’s name and references to events hosted at Feeding Our Future’s headquarters. Omar has strongly denied any involvement in the fraud and has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
“These allegations are serious, and those responsible must be held accountable,” a Department of Justice spokesperson said in a statement. “We will continue to pursue justice for the taxpayers and the children this program was meant to serve.”
Eidleh’s extradition process to the United States is expected to begin shortly. If convicted on all counts, he could face decades in federal prison.
The Feeding Our Future case has already resulted in multiple guilty pleas and convictions among other defendants. The nonprofit’s founder and several associates have faced charges in what prosecutors described as a sophisticated conspiracy that exploited pandemic-related relaxations in program oversight.
This arrest comes as federal and state auditors continue to examine weaknesses in child nutrition program safeguards that allowed the massive fraud to occur.
