Asad Mohamed Abshir has admitted to one count of money laundering in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, marking the 48th conviction in this case. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson announced the plea.
“This guilty plea is another step in exposing the staggering levels of corruption that have been hiding in plain sight across Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “This defendant laundered millions meant to feed children and funneled it into a web of shell companies and luxury spending. As FBI Director Kash 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 assisted his brother Abdinasir Abshir with Stigma Free International under Feeding Our Future’s sponsorship, claiming to operate a food distribution site in Mankato, Minnesota. However, they did not provide the meals they claimed and received taxpayer dollars unlawfully.
Between 2020 and 2021, the brothers falsely claimed to have provided 1.6 million meals to children, with Abdinasir receiving approximately $750,000 personally. Abshir used $77,353 from fraudulent proceeds to purchase a GMC Sierra truck which has been seized for forfeiture along with $424,762 from his shell company’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,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Abshir entered his guilty plea before Judge Nancy E. Brasel at 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 while Assistant US Attorney Craig Baune handles asset seizure & forfeiture.
