The FBI arrested Said Abdullahi Ereg, a 47-year-old Somali-born man, for allegedly stealing $4 million from a federal food program intended for children. Ereg was wanted on fraud charges since 2024 and was recently placed on the FBI's 'Most Wanted Fraudsters' list due to his involvement in the Feeding Our Future scam, which totaled $250 million. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Ereg surrendered to federal authorities, and the arrest is part of a broader effort to address fraud against taxpayers.
Ereg is accused of taking $4.2 million in government payments for meals that were never provided through his grocery store in Minneapolis, which was sponsored by the fraudulent Feeding Our Future program. Prosecutors claim he only served a fraction of the claimed 1.4 million meals. The funds were allegedly used to support a lavish lifestyle, including purchases from high-end brands and transferring money to foreign accounts. Ereg faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, with proceedings set to occur in federal court in Minnesota.
Aimee Bock, founder of Feeding Our Future, was previously sentenced to 500 months in prison for her role in the exploitation of the child nutrition program. The Trump administration, under Vice President JD Vance, is actively investigating fraud in federal programs.