Abdirashid Bixi Dool, director of a Minnesota nonprofit, became the 78th individual charged in the nation’s largest COVID-19 fraud scandal involving Feeding Our Future. This federal initiative was designed to provide meals for children during the pandemic. However, Dool allegedly exploited this program, claiming nearly $1.1 million between March 2021 and February 2022.
Dool’s deceit was systematic, as shown in the indictment. He claimed that his two nonprofit sites, the Bilaal Mosque Inc. and the Multicultural Resource Center, served more than 40,000 meals per week. Prosecutors challenge this assertion, stating that the majority of the claimed services never occurred. Dool’s applications were not just inflated but fabrications that suggested his sites were serving up to 6,000 meals a day—a figure that exceeded the entire population of Pelican Rapids, where the Bilaal Mosque is located.
The details of the indictment paint a picture of shrewd deception. Dool filed fraudulent invoices and fabricated rosters containing names of non-existent children. Investigators from multiple federal agencies allege that instead of providing meals, the funds were diverted into personal bank accounts, including those of Dool, an accomplice known as “Conspirator A,” and their families. Instead of feeding children in need, the money funded personal travels and real estate purchases.
This indictment exemplifies a growing trend of fraudulent activities during a time of crisis. The Feeding Our Future fraud case has now amassed a staggering $250 million in total fraud, marking it as the largest COVID-19 relief fraud case in the country. The deceptive practices employed by Dool and others involved highlight serious flaws in oversight and accountability regarding relief efforts intended for vulnerable communities.
Federal prosecutors revealed a pattern of layered deception, where nonprofit operators submitted falsified documents while claiming to support needy families. Dool’s actions reflect a broader problem within the system, as fraudulent applications and unnamed intermediaries facilitated the laundering of funds meant to help children. Records confirm that large amounts were reported but not adequately supported by actual food purchases.
Dool’s alleged fraud persisted without detection for nearly a year, placing scrutiny on both state and federal oversight mechanisms. As the sponsor of the meal sites, Feeding Our Future acted as a bridge for federal funds. The significant discrepancies between reported meals and actual distributions raise questions about the Minnesota Department of Education and the USDA’s ability to manage and oversee funds effectively.
In the ongoing investigation, over 60 defendants have already faced guilty pleas or convictions, with details emerging about lavish spending on luxury items and extravagant lifestyle choices funded by misappropriated taxpayer dollars. For instance, one Minneapolis man received a ten-year sentence for his role in a scheme that netted $47 million, with funds spent on jewelry in Dubai and property in Kenya.
Dool’s dual roles as president of MRC and board member at Bilaal Mosque allowed him to shape both finances and operations at these sites, utilizing familiar tactics seen in other cases: fake meal rosters and bogus invoices. This case strongly suggests that inflated food service claims were a strategic attempt to cover up the lack of actual nutritional assistance.
Evidence presented by federal authorities relies on documented proof, financial trails, and inconsistencies in demographic data. Notably, the claim of serving 6,000 meals a day raised immediate concerns, as one investigator remarked, “That number alone raised red flags. We’re talking about feeding more people than actually live in the town.” Dool’s indictment not only underscores individual misconduct but highlights systemic failures within Minnesota’s handling of COVID-19 funds.
The governor’s administration has drawn criticism for its inability to uncover and curb the misuse of federal funds allocated through state programs. While investigations largely fall under federal jurisdiction, the state’s oversight failures cannot be overlooked. Lackluster audits and standards during a time of urgent need have exposed glaring weaknesses in the systems designed to protect public dollars.
The implications of this scandal extend far beyond financial losses. Communities relying on these funds for meals may never recoup what was lost, leading to significant moral and financial fallout. The continued flow of new indictments signals an expanding inquiry, promising that this case might not be wrapped up soon.
Consequently, trust in community nonprofits has decreased among the public. Prosecutors in recent trials have highlighted the damaging impacts of such fraud, indicating that individuals involved have undermined the foundation of trust essential to community support. Dool’s actions and those of his counterparts represent a serious breach of that trust, with lasting repercussions for both the institutions involved and the communities they were supposed to serve.
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