The FBI reported that the Justice Department’s first “Most Wanted Fraudster” turned himself in on Wednesday in Minneapolis.
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Said Abdullahi Ereg was detained in Minneapolis after allegedly stealing $4 million from the Federal Child Nutrition Program during the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to the Justice Department, Ereg claimed to deliver meals to children in need, but reportedly utilized government funding to maintain a “lavish lifestyle.”
According to the Justice Department, Ereg allegedly managed a grocery store and deli in Minneapolis and was enrolled in the program through the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future, a Minnesota-based charity organization that was supposed to give meals to needy children.
According to officials, the grocery and deli claimed to have supplied over 1.4 million meals and received payments totaling $4.2 million.
He was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in 2024.
Ereg was placed on the “Most Wanted Fraudster” list six days ago.
“Today’s arrest is historic—the first ever arrest of a subject on our Most Wanted Fraudsters List released last week with the White House Task Force to eliminate fraud,” Patel stated.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and other federal authorities, including Patel and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, were in Ohio last week to announce charges against accused fraudsters as well as a list of fraudsters.
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