MINNEAPOLIS – A 51-year-old Savage man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the Feeding Our Future COVID relief fraud case.
Mohamed Jama Isamli was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering after a six-week trial.
U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger says Isamli owned and operated Empire Cuisine and Market LLC, a for-profit restaurant that participated in the scheme as a salesperson for other sites and to launder fraudulent proceeds.
Isamli and his co-defendants received more than $40 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds, according to court documents.
Isamli was among the first of 70 defendants to stand trial in what federal authorities have called “the largest pandemic fraud in the United States.” In total, the plan siphoned off $250 million in federal funds at a time when rules were being relaxed to keep the U.S. economy afloat.
The nonprofit’s founder, Aimee Bock, has maintained her innocence. Eighteen others have pleaded guilty. Prosecutors accused the defendants of spending money on luxury cars, jewelry, travel and property. Only a fraction of the money went to feeding low-income children.
Isamli’s prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. He must also pay nearly $48 million in restitution.
Isamli’s trial, which involved six other co-defendants, was made more complicated when a juror reported she had been served with a citation. $120,000 bribe with the promise of more if she voted to acquit the seven suspects in the case. Five people were charged in connection with the bribery.
