Feeding Our Future Case Witness Tampering Suspect Pleads Guilty
Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News) - The man who was jailed on allegations of witness tampering in the trial of the alleged ringleader of the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme today entered a guilty plea in federal court.
33-year-old Abdinasir Mahamad Abshir of Lakeville was observed approaching a Rochester man at the federal courthouse in Minneapolis shortly before Sharmake Jama was set to testify against Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock. Jama had agreed to be a prosecution witness when he entered into a plea agreement to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges stemming from his involvement in the massive fraud operation through his ownership of the Brava Restaurant and Cafe in Rochester.
At the time, Abshir was awaiting trial on federal charges for allegedly collecting more than $5.4 million from a Federal Child nutrition program based on fraudulent claims submitted during the pandemic. The US Attorney's Office for Minnesota says Abshir falsely claimed to serve meals to 3000 children a day at a restaurant in Mankato between November 2020 and November 2021.
He was also accused of paying more than $100,000 in bribes and kickbacks to an employee of Feeding Our Future for its sponsorship in the federal program.
He entered a guilty plea today to a federal wire fraud charge. A news release from the US Attorney for Minnesota also indicates that Abshir acknowledged that he will receive a longer sentence in the case because he obstructed justice when he attempted to tamper with a witness during the Bock trial, which continued this week at the Federal Courthouse in Minneapolis.
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Gallery Credit: Minnesota Now
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