A Kenyan citizen has been indicted in the United States for his alleged role in a massive international money laundering scheme linked to a non-profit organization that was meant to feed school children.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, Ahmednaji Maalim Aftin Sheikh, 28, was a key player in the “Feeding Our Future” fraud, the largest pandemic-era fraud case in U.S. history.
The indictment alleges that Sheikh helped move stolen funds overseas, disguising them through a web of transactions involving shell companies and accounts in different countries. Prosecutors say the funds were part of a scheme in which individuals and organizations submitted false claims for federal child nutrition program reimbursements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Instead of feeding hungry children during a global crisis, these defendants exploited a program designed to provide relief and enriched themselves at taxpayers’ expense,” U.S. authorities said.
The broader Feeding Our Future scandal has already seen dozens of people charged, accused of defrauding the U.S. government of more than $250 million. The organization at the center of the case falsely claimed it was providing millions of meals to low-income children, while in reality, much of the money was diverted to luxury cars, property, and international transfers.
Sheikh’s alleged role was to act as a money launderer, helping funnel proceeds abroad to conceal their source. If convicted, he faces severe penalties, including long-term imprisonment and heavy fines.
The U.S. government has emphasized that it is working closely with international partners to trace stolen funds and hold all perpetrators accountable, regardless of nationality.
