Federal prosecutors have charged Muna Wais Fidhin, 44, the wife of Somaliland’s Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir, in connection with the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, the largest COVID-19 relief fraud case in U.S. history.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota announced that Fidhin was indicted on ten federal counts, including wire fraud, federal programs bribery, and money laundering. She was arrested on Sept. 4, making her the 75th defendant charged in the sweeping investigation.
Alleged $1 Million Fraud
According to the indictment, Fidhin enrolled her businesses — M5 Café and later the nonprofit M5 Care — in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future.
Prosecutors allege she submitted false invoices and claims stating that her establishments were serving meals to 500 children per day, seven days a week. In reality, investigators say few if any meals were served.
Fidhin allegedly claimed more than 300,000 meals, defrauding the program of approximately $1 million. Instead of using the funds to feed children, prosecutors say she paid off her mortgage, bought a car, funded her lifestyle, and wired tens of thousands of dollars abroad.
Authorities also allege she paid $27,000 in kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee to secure sponsorship of her fraudulent claims.
Links Abroad and Political Ties
The indictment further suggests that portions of the funds were funneled overseas, including money transfers through WorldRemit to support the Somaliland presidential campaign of Abdirahman Irro.
Prosecutors allege Fidhin used her husband’s Minnesota daycare business as a channel to launder illicit proceeds.
Crackdown on Pandemic Fraud
Federal investigators underscored the significance of Fidhin’s arrest.
“Today’s arrest of Muna Wais Fidhin represents yet another major milestone in this investigation: the 75th indictment in this massive fraud scheme,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. “As alleged in the indictment, Fidhin stole more than $1 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds intended for hungry children.”
The Feeding Our Future case has become the largest COVID-19 relief fraud prosecution in the United States, exposing how emergency programs were exploited during the pandemic.
From 2019 to 2021, the nonprofit Feeding Our Future’s funding ballooned from $3.4 million to nearly $200 million.
What’s Next
Fidhin faces up to decades in federal prison if convicted on all counts. Prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing and more charges may follow.
For now, her indictment highlights how federal authorities continue to pursue individuals — including those with political ties abroad — who allegedly profited at the expense of vulnerable children and U.S. taxpayers.
