An Eagan woman has pleaded guilty to her role in a $250 million “Feeding Our Future” pandemic fraud case, admitting to using stolen funds to buy a Tesla and real estate.
Kawsar Jama, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in U.S. District Court earlier this week. Jama is one of 70 people charged in the scheme, which involved misusing federal government aid dollars intended to provide meals to needy children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jama was the principal of Gedo Community Services and Ahlan Childcare Center, Inc. According to court documents, Jama enrolled the organizations in the Federal Child Nutrition Program and received funding through sponsor organizations like Feeding Our Future.
Jama claimed to operate food sites in Pelican Rapids, Burnsville and Minneapolis.
Jama would receive false invoices through her food vendor Haji’s Kitchen, which was operated by Haji Osman Salad. She would then use the invoices to receive reimbursement from the Federal Child Nutrition Program.