Minnesota State Wire

Asad Mohamed Abshir has admitted to one count of money laundering in connection with the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, as revealed by Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. This marks the 48th conviction related to this significant fraud case.

“This guilty plea is another step in exposing the staggering levels of corruption that have been hiding in plain sight across Minnesota,” stated 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."

Abshir, aged 34, assisted his brother Abdinasir Abshir with operations at a non-profit named Stigma Free International during the fall of 2020. They claimed to run a food distribution site in Mankato, Minnesota under Feeding Our Future's sponsorship. However, the brothers did not provide the food they claimed and received taxpayer funds unlawfully.

Between 2020 and 2021, they falsely claimed to have delivered 1.6 million meals to children. Abdinasir received approximately $750,000 from this scheme. Asad used $77,353 from these funds to buy a GMC Sierra truck, which has been seized for forfeiture along with $424,762 from Santana LLC’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,” commented FBI Minneapolis Special Agent Alvin M. Winston Sr.

The investigation was conducted by several agencies including the FBI and IRS – Criminal Investigations.

Abshir pleaded guilty before Judge Nancy E. Brasel in U.S. District Court; sentencing will be scheduled later.

Prosecutors include Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson alongside Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs, Daniel W. Bobier, and Craig Baune who manages asset forfeiture.