Attorney General Ellison files false claims lawsuits against businesses and individuals for child nutrition fraud

On October 26, 2026, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed two civil lawsuits in Hennepin County District Court alleging violations of the Minnesota False Claims Act in connection with COVID-19 pandemic-era federal child nutrition programs administered by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). The federal programs at issue are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. MDE administers those programs in Minnesota, and reimbursement claims were submitted to MDE. The first lawsuit names Nasib Bakery Food Distribution LLC and its former owner Abshir Hossen. The complaint alleges that from October 2020 to April 2021, Nasib Bakery served as vendor for the "Riverside Park" distribution site, sponsored by Partners in Nutrition (PIN). The defendants purportedly claimed reimbursement for over 430,000 breakfasts and 430,000 lunches, totaling more than $2 million, for meals the complaint alleges were never served. The complaint further alleges that more than $1 million of those public funds was transferred directly into Hossen's personal bank account and used to purchase real property, pay off a mortgage, and invest in private companies. The second lawsuit names East African Healthcare Network (EAHN), a Minnesota nonprofit corporation, its founder Abdinasir Elmi, three additional affiliated entities, and five additional individuals. The complaint alleges that from 2020 to 2022 this network submitted false claims for more than 3 million meals across more than a dozen sites, claiming in excess of $10 million in reimbursements. The Attorney General alleges that EAHN, Elmi, and co-defendants personally profited from the federally funded meal program in violation of program restrictions on conflicts of interest, and that meal documentation for the sites does not support the number of meals claimed. Both lawsuits seek treble damages, civil penalties per false claim, injunctive relief, and recovery of attorney fees and costs. These filings follow a September 24, 2026 lawsuit and proposed $18.5 million settlement with PIN, the common program sponsor for sites at issue in both new cases. A prior April 2026 civil jury verdict against Emaldeldin Ibrahim resulted in a June 12, 2026 court order requiring repayment of $2.5 million to MDE under the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).