Former Omar Associate Pleads Guilty in Pandemic Food Fraud Case

A former campaign associate of Representative Ilhan Omar has admitted guilt in a major fraud scheme targeting a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID‑19 pandemic. His plea adds to increasing scrutiny of the congresswoman’s political circle.

Federal prosecutors confirmed that Guhaad Hashi Said, aged 49, confessed to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges stem from his alleged role in a scheme that siphoned off millions in public funds meant to feed children during the pandemic.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson, Said is the 52nd defendant to be convicted in what is known as the Feeding Our Future case. In a public statement, Thompson warned that the fraud was not the work of isolated bad actors but part of an expansive network preying on programs designed to assist vulnerable communities.

“Each time we expose one of these schemes, more emerge,” Thompson asserted. “The scale of fraud in Minnesota is staggering, and if we hope to halt it, every tool must be used.”

How the Scheme Unfolded

Between December 2020 and January 2022, prosecutors say Said abused the Federal Child Nutrition Program by submitting false claims through a nonprofit he controlled, called Advance Youth Athletic Development. Incorporated in early 2021, the nonprofit was tied to a residential apartment in Minneapolis.

Beginning in March 2021, Said claimed the nonprofit distributed 5,000 meals per day to underprivileged children, and from March through December, he reported serving over a million meals. In reality, investigators say, only a small fraction of those meals were actually provided. To support his claims, Said allegedly submitted inflated attendance rosters, fabricated meal count sheets, and phony invoices.

Federal filings show that the scheme pulled in about $2.9 million in government reimbursements. Between August and December 2021 alone, over $2.1 million was transferred from his nonprofit’s bank accounts to a catering company—purportedly for food supplies. Additional funds were allegedly routed through shell nonprofits and limited liability companies to purchase houses, automobiles, and other personal assets.

If sentenced at maximum, Said could face up to 25 years in federal prison. Before these charges, he had made a failed bid for a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018.

Omar: Near the Storm, Not in It

To be clear, Representative Ilhan Omar has not been charged in connection with the Feeding Our Future scandal. But this development certainly raises questions about the oversight and conduct of those close to her political orbit.

Omar already carries a history of past minor violations. In 2019, the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board found that her state legislative campaign misreported expenses and improperly used campaign funds. She was ordered to reimburse about $3,469.

More recently, she’s come under fire from House Republicans. Minnesota’s House Majority Whip Tom Emmer pushed for an ethics inquiry after a video surfaced in which Omar appeared to speak in Somali. The translation circulating online claimed she prioritized Somalia’s interests over those of the U.S. Omar rejected that version, offering an alternate translation in which she pledged to defend Somali maritime rights while serving in Congress.

These foreign-policy controversies—combined with past campaign finance issues—have long made Omar a target for political attacks. Now, as one of her former associates admits guilt in a high-profile fraud, critics are likely to intensify their scrutiny of her inner network.

Ripple Effects and Legal Battles Ahead

Said’s plea is only one chapter in a sprawling investigation. The Feeding Our Future case has already ensnared dozens of defendants and revealed deep vulnerabilities in pandemic-era spending oversight.

As the case moves toward sentencing, observers will be watching for cooperating testimony, uncovering whether Said’s role was isolated or connected to broader coordination. Courts may also examine whether any of the fraud tied back to campaign or political connections.

For Omar, the timing is sensitive. As she continues her work in Congress, the narrative of someone in her sphere being convicted puts her under renewed pressure—both from constituents and political rivals. While no formal charges have tied her to the scheme, the optics are stark: someone once aligned with her campaign now stands convicted of a crime involving public trust and broken promises.

Whatever happens next in the courtroom, this case will remain a political flashpoint. It highlights how even well-meaning programs can be exploited, how nonprofit and public funds remain vulnerable, and how political figures must reckon with the conduct of those who surround them.