A defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud case was sentenced to six months in jail after admitting to stealing nearly $500,000, KARE 11 in Minneapolis reported.
Zamzam Jama was ordered to repay $491,000 and serve six months for her role in the scheme. U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel issued the sentence one day after handing co-conspirator Abdul Abubakar Ali just over a year in prison.
Jama and Ali are among dozens charged in the case, which federal prosecutors say involved widespread fraud tied to a taxpayer-funded child nutrition program.
According to KARE 11, Jama is the first of six family members to be sentenced in connection with the scheme. Prosecutors say the Jama family operated out of Brava Restaurant and Cafe in Rochester and falsely claimed to serve meals to children, securing millions in federal funds.
The family is accused of taking $5.6 million, while Jama used stolen funds to purchase a $480,000 home in Rosemount and a Toyota RAV4. Those assets have been seized by the government along with $150,000 from her bank account.
The case alleges defendants stole about $250 million between 2019 and 2021 by submitting false invoices and attendance records to claim reimbursement for meals that were never served.
The Jama family claimed to have provided 1.7 million meals through the program.
Jama is the eighth defendant sentenced so far, with penalties in the case ranging from one year to more than 17 years, according to the Center of the American Experiment.
Ali, sentenced a day earlier, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, though additional charges were dismissed as part of his plea agreement.
KARE 11 reported his sentence sparked reaction in Minneapolis after it fell below federal guidelines.
In court, Ali apologized.
"This was a mistake," he said. "I will try to correct it for the rest of my life."
Judge Brasel cited his early cooperation with investigators as a factor in reducing his sentence below the recommended range.
Prosecutors said Ali's cooperation helped advance the case, which has resulted in dozens of convictions.
More than 60 people have been convicted, and a total of 79 have pleaded guilty or been found guilty, according to case data.
The scheme is considered one of the largest fraud cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in recent years.
Jim Mishler ✉
Jim Mishler, a seasoned reporter, anchor and news director, has decades of experience covering crime, politics and environmental issues.
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