Asad Mohamed Abshir has admitted to one count of money laundering in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. This marks the 48th conviction in this extensive fraud case.
“This guilty plea is another step in exposing the staggering levels of fraud that have been hiding in plain sight across Minnesota,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “This defendant laundered money meant to feed children and funneled it into a web of shell companies and luxury spending. As FBI Director Kah Patel recently said, this case stands as one of the most egregious abuses of public trust in recent memory. The people of Minnesota deserve better.”
In 2020, Abshir, aged 34, assisted his brother Abdinasir Abshir with operations at Stigma Free International, a non-profit sponsored by Feeding Our Future. They falsely claimed to run a food distribution site in Mankato, Minnesota, while Abdinasir claimed to provide food through Horseed Management LLC. However, no food was provided as claimed, and they wrongly received taxpayer funds.
Between 2020 and 2021, the brothers falsely reported providing 1.6 million meals to children. Abdinasir personally obtained about $750,000 from these claims. Asad used $77,353 from the fraudulent proceeds to buy a GMC Sierra truck which will be forfeited to the United States along with $424,762 seized from Santana LLC’s bank account.
“Asad Abshir’s guilty plea underscores a troubling intersection of deception and exploitation within federal assistance programs designed to nourish vulnerable populations,” noted FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr., emphasizing the need for oversight and accountability.
The investigation was carried out by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Abshir entered his plea before Judge Nancy E. Brasel in U.S District Court; sentencing will be scheduled later.
Acting U.S Attorney Joseph H Thompson along with Assistant U.S Attorneys Matthew S Ebert Harry M Jacobs Daniel W Bobier are prosecuting this case Assistant US Attorney Craig Baune is managing asset seizure and forfeiture.
