Rochester, MN ( KROC-AM News ) – Two more people with connections to a Rochester restaurant have entered guilty pleas to charges stemming from the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scandal.
According to federal court documents, 48-year-old Mustafa Jama , of Rochester and 42-year-old Asha Jama of Lakeville were accused of conspiring to establish shell companies to receive and distribute funds from the Federal Child Nutrition Program during the COVID pandemic. The allegations involved nearly $1.5 million in misappropriated federal funds linked to the Brava Restaurant in Rochester that were then used for personal expenditures.
Both entered guilty pleas to federal money laundering charges.
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A news release from the office of the US Attorney for Minnesota says Mustafa Jama used the money to purchase a home in Ohio, another residence in Lakeville , and Mediterranean coastal property in Turkey. Officials say he has forfeited his stake in the Ohio and Lakeville properties, along with nearly $240,000 from his bank accounts.
A news release also indicates Asha Jama used proceeds from the fraud scheme toward the purchase of homes in Lakeville and Rochester. She has also forfeited her interest in the real estate holdings and nearly $150,000 from her bank accounts…