MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — Five Somali individuals were convicted for misappropriating funds from a COVID relief program intended to feed hungry children.

This verdict follows the dismissal of a juror due to a bribery attempt by associates of the defendants. While five were convicted, two individuals were acquitted in this case, which involves dozens of defendants.

The convicted individuals face charges of wire fraud, federal programs bribery, and money laundering. They were accused of embezzling over $40 million from the federally funded Feeding Our Future program. Rather than using the funds to provide food for children, they spent the money on cryptocurrency, luxury items, and properties, the New York Times reports.

Breaking: Five Somalis have been convicted in a federal fraud trial in Minneapolis of stealing more than $40 million meant to feed hungry children. In a huge shock at trial, it was revealed a juror was offered a bag crammed with $120k in cash to acquit them.

Those convicted… pic.twitter.com/DVtNiVtiCW

— Andy Ngô 🏳️‍🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) June 7, 2024

The convicted individuals, aged 23 to 51, were Somali immigrants residing in Minneapolis and St. Paul. In total, 47 people have been charged in this case, with charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery.

Prosecutors described this as one of the largest fraud cases the Department of Justice has handled in many years. The convicted individuals face potential sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison.

Andy Ngo reported that those convicted are connected to the Dar Al-Farooq mosque. The convicted individuals are Abdiaziz S. Farah, 35, Mohamed J. Ismail, 51, Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, 23, Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, 33, and Hayat Mohamed Nur, 27.

“Said Shafii Farah and Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin, whose defense lawyers had said they had only minor roles in the food distribution operation, were acquitted,” the New York Times reported on the two that were acquitted.

In September 2022, criminal charges were announced against 47 defendants for a $250 million fraud scheme.

“These indictments, alleging the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme charged to date, underscore the Department of Justice’s sustained commitment to combating pandemic fraud and holding accountable those who perpetrate it,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said at the time.

“In partnership with agencies across government, the Justice Department will continue to bring to justice those who have exploited the pandemic for personal gain and stolen from American taxpayers.”

“This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota. “These defendants exploited a program designed to provide nutritious food to needy children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they prioritized their own greed, stealing more than a quarter of a billion dollars in federal funds to purchase luxury cars, houses, jewelry, and coastal resort property abroad. I commend the work of the skilled investigators and prosecutors who unraveled the lies, deception, and mountains of false documentation to bring this complex case to light.”

Additional trials are anticipated in the coming weeks.