A former campaign associate of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has pleaded guilty to participating in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme, deepening the controversies surrounding the progressive lawmaker’s political network.Federal prosecutors revealed that 49-year-old Guhaad Hashi Said, who was described by Alpha News as an “enforcer” for Omar’s campaign, admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering.The charges stem from an extensive fraud operation that targeted a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, exploiting funds intended to help underprivileged children.
The plea comes as the 52nd individual to be convicted in the Feeding Our Future scandal, which has cast a long shadow over Minnesota’s political and social fabric. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson, commenting on the case, emphasized the vast scale of the fraud.“The scale of the fraud in Minnesota is staggering,” Thompson said. “These crimes are not isolated events. They are part of a web of schemes targeting programs that are intended to lift up Minnesotans and bleeding them dry. Ending this will take an unyielding, all-hands-on-deck effort from all of us.”Said, through his nonprofit organization, Advance Youth Athletic Development, claimed to be providing daily meals to thousands of children in need under the Federal Child Nutrition Program.According to court documents, Said falsely reported serving 5,000 meals per day, beginning in March 2021. Over the course of several months, he submitted fraudulent claims for more than 1 million meals.
However, investigators found that only a fraction of the claimed meals were actually provided. Said submitted fabricated meal count sheets, attendance rosters, and invoices to secure reimbursement for meals that were never served.The total amount of fraudulently claimed federal funds was approximately $2.9 million. Between August and December 2021, Said funneled more than $2.1 million from his nonprofit’s bank accounts to a catering business, ostensibly for food purchases.However, instead of using the money to feed children, Said used it to buy real estate, vehicles, and personal items through a network of shell nonprofits and LLCs. These illicit transactions allowed him to funnel federal money into his own pockets, enriching himself at the expense of taxpayer funds intended for children in need.Said’s guilty plea on charges of wire fraud and money laundering carries significant legal consequences. He faces up to 25 years in federal prison when sentenced.The case, which has drawn attention to fraudulent activities within Minnesota’s political and nonprofit sectors, also shines a light on the broader issue of how federal funds intended for vulnerable populations can be exploited by unscrupulous individuals.Though Rep. Ilhan Omar herself has not been implicated in the Feeding Our Future scandal, the conviction of a former associate continues to raise questions about the broader network surrounding her.
Said, who worked closely with Omar’s campaign in various capacities, has become the latest figure in a growing list of individuals with ties to the congresswoman who have faced legal or ethical scrutiny.In 2019, Omar’s state legislative campaign came under fire when the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board found that Omar had violated reporting requirements.
The board found that her campaign had improperly used funds for personal expenses, leading to an order for Omar to reimburse $3,469.23. While this violation was relatively minor in comparison to the current scandal, it added to the political controversies that have dogged Omar’s career.Recently, Omar has faced additional scrutiny over her foreign policy rhetoric and public statements. In early 2023, a video clip surfaced showing Omar speaking in Somali, which critics interpreted as prioritizing Somalia’s interests over those of the United States.House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) called for an ethics investigation, accusing Omar of anti-American rhetoric and urging her resignation. Emmer’s statement fueled a firestorm of controversy, especially after a translation of her remarks appeared to suggest that she would work to protect Somalia’s sea access from foreign encroachment, potentially at the expense of U.S. interests.Omar rejected the translation, asserting that it was inaccurate. In her version of the remarks, she stated that she would work to protect Somalia’s sea access while serving in Congress, emphasizing that the U.S. would not back others in taking control of Somali waters.Despite the controversy, Omar maintained that her comments were meant to express her commitment to advocating for Somali interests in the U.S. government while ensuring that foreign powers do not exploit Somali resources.The Feeding Our Future case has now become a symbol of the wider problem of fraud in federally funded programs, particularly those that were expanded to meet the needs of struggling communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.Minnesota’s child nutrition program, which is intended to provide meals to children from low-income families, became a target for individuals seeking to profit from the increased federal funding aimed at alleviating food insecurity during the pandemic.As of the latest reports, the scheme has ensnared dozens of individuals, many of whom have ties to the local Democratic establishment. Said’s involvement in this fraud has led to additional scrutiny of Minnesota’s political landscape, particularly regarding the state’s Democratic Party and its connections to various nonprofits.
This is not the first time Minnesota has been embroiled in a high-profile scandal involving nonprofit fraud, but the scale of the Feeding Our Future case has set it apart.The U.S. Attorney’s office continues to investigate individuals involved in the scheme, with new arrests and convictions likely in the coming months. Investigators have warned that the scope of the fraud is far-reaching, and the full extent of the damage is still being uncovered.With millions of dollars in taxpayer funds misused, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerability of federal programs to abuse.The guilty plea from Said has added a new layer of scrutiny to Omar’s political career. Although there is no indication that Omar directly benefited from the fraud scheme, her connection to Said and other individuals involved in the Feeding Our Future case places her under increasing political pressure.As a member of Congress, Omar’s associations and the actions of those within her orbit are subject to intense public and media scrutiny.Omar has consistently defended her record against accusations of corruption or impropriety. However, the Feeding Our Future case, along with other controversies surrounding her past comments and campaign violations, has placed her under a political microscope.While the congresswoman has not been directly implicated in any criminal activity related to Said’s actions, the growing list of controversies tied to her political network could impact her future in office, particularly as her critics continue to push for investigations and accountability.As for Omar’s response to the ongoing political pressure, she has rejected calls for her resignation, maintaining that she has always acted in the best interests of her constituents and the United States.