OAN Staff Lillian Mann
9:09 AM – Thursday, June 11, 2026
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that the first fugitive on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) “Most Wanted Fraudsters” list surrendered to authorities in Minnesota in connection with an alleged $4 million scheme targeting the Federal Child Nutrition Program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a statement released Wednesday by the DOJ, Abdullahi Ereg conspired to obtain, misappropriate and launder millions of dollars intended to provide meals for children in need. Instead, prosecutors allege Ereg diverted the funds to finance a “lavish” lifestyle.
Ereg ran a grocery and deli in Minneapolis and was under the sponsorship of the nonprofit organization, Feeding Our Future. A federal arrest warrant was initially issued for him on January 24, 2024, and he was later formally indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy involving wire fraud and money laundering on June 24, 2024, according to the statement.
Prosecutors alleged that the business fraudulently claimed to serve over 1.4 million meals and received over $4.2 million in federal funding.
“At times, Evergreen Grocery and Deli claimed to have served more than 3,000 meals, twice a day, seven days a week,” the statement read.
On June 4, 2026, Ereg was officially placed on the FBI’s newly launched “Most Wanted Fraudsters” list, which currently features seven other wanted individuals. Just one day later, Ereg contacted federal authorities through his legal counsel to state his desire to return to the U.S. from Kenya, and federal law enforcement officials coordinated and facilitated his travel back to the U.S.
Ereg then peacefully surrendered to agents from the FBI in Minneapolis on Wednesday, after his legal counsel negotiated his return. FBI Director Kash Patel referred to the coordinated surrender as “historic.”
“Today’s arrest is historic — the first ever arrest of a subject on our Most Wanted Fraudsters List released last week with the White House Task Force to eliminate fraud,” Patel said.
As part of broader anti-fraud efforts, Vice President JD Vance is pressing the DOJ to investigate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D-Minn.) and Attorney General Keith Ellison for failing to stop fraud in Minnesota.
“The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs,” the District of Minnesota’s Attorney’s Office stated.
Nonetheless, Walz and Ellison have repeatedly claimed that Minnesota is cooperating with federal fraud investigations and have expressed their commitment to fraudsters being held accountable.
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