FOF defendant Abdimajid Nur sentenced to 10 years, ~$48M restitution
Abdimajid Nur, convicted in the Feeding Our Future fraud, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay roughly $48 million in restitution after evidence showed he created and submitted most of the fake meal counts, rosters and invoices for Empire Cuisine & Market sites — at some locations no food was served and at others meals were provided by Shakopee Public Schools. Judge Nancy Brasel said, “It is so disappointing and so disheartening that where others saw a crisis and rushed to help, you saw money and rushed to steal,” and prosecutors detailed Nur’s spending of proceeds on vehicles (including a $64,000 Dodge Ram and $35,000 Hyundai Santa Fe), a Maldives honeymoon, jewelry in Dubai and about $12,000 paid to complete online coursework; he faces a separate sentencing for attempting to bribe a juror.
📌 Key Facts
- Abdimajid Nur was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay about $48 million in restitution for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.
- U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel said at sentencing: “It is so disappointing and so disheartening that where others saw a crisis and rushed to help, you saw money and rushed to steal.”
- Prosecutors say Nur created and submitted most of the fake meal counts, rosters and invoices for Empire Cuisine & Market sites as part of the fraud.
- FOX 9 reports that at some Empire sites no food was served, and at other sites meals were actually provided by Shakopee Public Schools, not Empire.
- Investigators say Nur spent fraud proceeds on personal items and trips, including a $64,000 Dodge Ram, a $35,000 Hyundai Santa Fe, a honeymoon in the Maldives and jewelry purchased in Dubai.
- Nur paid about $12,000 to a website to complete coursework at Herzing University and ultimately received a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management (3.42 GPA), despite a 1.75 GPA from Shakopee High School.
- Nur faces a separate upcoming sentencing for allegedly attempting to bribe a juror.
📊 Relevant Data
The Feeding Our Future fraud scheme involved the theft of at least $250 million from USDA-funded school nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Feeding Our Future - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
As of late 2025, 77 suspects have been indicted in the Feeding Our Future fraud, with more than 50 having pled guilty.
Feeding Our Future - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
Most of the charged and convicted individuals in the Feeding Our Future fraud case are members of Minnesota's Somali American community.
Feeding Our Future - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
USDA waivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as those allowing offsite monitoring and waiving preapproval visits, reduced oversight and contributed to the opportunity for the $250 million fraud in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program.
Minnesota Department of Education: Oversight of Feeding Our Future — Office of the Legislative Auditor, State of Minnesota
Feeding Our Future claimed to have served 90 million meals in less than 2 years, but investigations showed few or no meals were provided at most sites, potentially depriving thousands of children of intended nutrition support during the pandemic.
Feeding Our Future - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
Only around 3% of the funding granted to Feeding Our Future meal sites was spent on food, with the remainder misappropriated by conspirators.
Feeding Our Future - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
📰 Sources (2)
- Judge Nancy Brasel’s on‑record quote at sentencing: “It is so disappointing and so disheartening that where others saw a crisis and rushed to help, you saw money and rushed to steal.”
- Detailed spending by Nur from fraud proceeds: $64,000 Dodge Ram, $35,000 Hyundai Santa Fe, honeymoon to the Maldives, purchase of jewelry in Dubai.
- Nur paid about $12,000 to a website to complete his coursework at Herzing University, ultimately receiving a bachelor’s degree (healthcare management) with a 3.42 GPA despite a 1.75 GPA from Shakopee High School.
- FOX 9 reiterates that at some sites no food was served and at others meals were actually provided by Shakopee Public Schools, not Empire Cuisine & Market.
- Confirms Nur created and submitted most of the fake meal counts, rosters and invoices for Empire sites; reiterates he faces a separate sentencing for attempting to bribe a juror.