'Feeding our Future' meal fraud costs Shakopee couple nearly 8 years in prison

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A Shakopee couple has been sentenced to a combined 97 months in prison for their roles in a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mekfira Hussein, 42, and Abduljabar Hussein, 45, submitted fraudulent claims for meals and obtained approximately $8.8 million in federal child nutrition program funds. The Husseins were sentenced before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel.

Mekfira Hussein was sentenced to 57 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She pleaded guilty on Jan. 31, 2025.

Abduljabar Hussein was sentenced to 40 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 5, 2025.

"The Husseins stole money that was meant for vulnerable children," U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen said. "Their sentences today reflect my office's commitment to holding those who defraud the American taxpayer accountable."

You know who else is connected with Feeding Our Future?

The wife of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

@greg_geiger

Yes, Mayor Jacob Frey’s wife, Sarah Clarke (also known as Sarah Stephens Frey), worked as a lobbyist at Hylden Advocacy & Law, a firm led by Nancy Hylden that represented Feeding Our Future (often referred to as “Feed Our Future”) as its attorney and lobbyist. Nancy Hylden appeared in federal court alongside Feeding Our Future’s executive director, Aimee Bock, following the FBI raids in January 2022 that exposed the massive COVID-19 relief fraud scheme involving over $250 million in misappropriated federal child nutrition funds.

Key Details on the Connection
• Sarah Clarke’s Role: Clarke was employed at Hylden Advocacy & Law until January 2022, representing nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations before the Minnesota legislature and executive agencies. The firm’s work included lobbying on behalf of Feeding Our Future, which was listed in the organization’s annual reports filed with the Minnesota Attorney General as far back as 2019.

• Timing of Departure: Clarke left the firm in January 2022, coinciding with the FBI raids on Feeding Our Future’s offices and related sites. Critics, including local activists and journalists, have questioned whether this timing suggests foreknowledge or influence from Frey’s connections, such as his reported friendship with U.S. Attorney Andy Luger (who oversaw the federal indictments). However, no charges have been filed against Clarke, Frey, or Nancy Hylden, and Frey has denied any personal awareness of the fraud.

• Firm’s Involvement: Hylden Advocacy & Law’s tagline is “your friend at the Capitol,” and it has lobbied extensively for clients tied to Minnesota’s political establishment, including support for figures like Attorney General Keith Ellison and Governor Tim Walz. Feeding Our Future paid the firm for legal and advocacy services, which helped the nonprofit push back against state oversight from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) before the fraud was uncovered

That’s 10,000,000 just on this page of FR.

We’ve got pretend conservatives making fun of President Trump for promising to print $5,000 per whatever, every adult.

Nothing about wher this comes from

Nothing about the incompetent people in the Medicare offices or in this guys congressman in charge of this guys district misappropriating our money

They owe us just for the misappropriation. That’s our money.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.