US Charges Man Who Bought Property in Kenya with Alleged Stolen COVID Billions

The United States has charged a man who allegedly bought property in Kenya using money stolen from COVID-19 relief funds worth billions of shillings.

The man, identified as Ahmednaji Maalim Aftin Sheikh, who is a Kenyan resident, has been indicted on charges of Conspiracy to Commit International Money Laundering for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, which involved the theft of more than $40 million (Ksh 5.17 billion) from federal child nutrition program funds intended to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the prosecution, Sheikh and his co-conspirators laundered more than $40 million in federal funds.

Prosecutors allege that Sheikh used some of the money he made to invest in a high-end real estate company in Kenya.

Investigations conducted by the FBI further revealed that Sheikh helped his brother, Abdiaziz Farah, who was recently sentenced to 28 years in prison for the same fraudulent scheme, launder and conceal his fraudulent gains abroad, including purchasing property in Kenya.

Ahmednaji Maalim Aftin Sheikh Charged in US for Stealing Covid Funds

Sheikh is being accused of helping Farah acquire a 20 per cent stake in a Kenyan real estate company.

In April 2021, Farah allegedly purchased an apartment building in Nairobi’s South C area, near Nairobi National Park.

Also Read: Man Who Bought Property in Kenya After Stealing COVID Billions Sentenced to 28 Years in U.S

The accused is also reported to have assisted Farah in acquiring land in Mandera Town, near the Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia border, using proceeds from the fraud.

US prosecutors also presented text messages and photos as evidence showing how Sheikh and his brother Abdiaziz Farah exchanged messages about handling millions of dollars in stolen COVID-19 relief funds.

The communications include photos of large cash transfers totaling more than $1.28 million (Ksh 166 million) sent from the US to Kenya, disguised as legitimate transactions.

Kenyan Sentenced to 28 Years for Defrauding US Govt

Acting US Attorney for the District of Minnesota Joseph H. Thompson announced that Sheikh is the 74th person charged in what he described as the largest COVID fraud scheme in the country.

“I share the outrage of my fellow Minnesotans at seeing money meant to feed hungry children converted into fortunes half a world away.

Sheikh’s indictment shows yet again what we are up against. It is another window into the many fraud schemes that have seeped into every corner of our state. But we cannot shrink from confronting this crisis. We must come together as Minnesotans and demand that the frauds stop now. We must protect the future of our children and our state,” said the US Attorney.

Also Read: Angry Trump Orders Drug Companies to Justify COVID-19 Success, Release Data to Public

The indictment of Sheikh comes weeks after his brother Abdiaziz Farah was sentenced to 28 years in prison by a US Federal Court after he was found to have played a part in a large COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.

From 2020 to 2022, Abdiaziz Farah and others reportedly ran a scheme to defraud the federal child nutrition program, which provides free meals to children in need. They allegedly obtained, misused, and laundered over $40 million (Ksh 5.17 billion) in funds that were meant to help hungry children.

Currently, Abdiaziz Farah is awaiting sentencing in a separate juror bribery case before a United States District Judge.

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