Said Abdullah Ereg appears in this booking photograph, not dated.FBI
The Justice Department’s inaugural listing of a “Most Wanted Fraudster” saw the individual turn themselves in to authorities on Wednesday in Minneapolis, as reported by the FBI.
Said Abdullahi Ereg is accused of misappropriating $4 million from the Federal Child Nutrition Program during the COVID-19 pandemic, with his apprehension by the FBI in Minneapolis confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel.
According to the Justice Department, Ereg stated that he provided meals to children in need; however, it is alleged that he instead utilized government funds to support a “lavish lifestyle,” as per the Justice Department.
Said Abdullah Ereg is shown in this undated booking photo.FBI
Ereg purportedly operated a grocery store and deli in Minneapolis and was registered in the program through the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization intended to distribute meals to underprivileged children, according to the Justice Department.
Authorities indicated that the grocery and deli reported serving over 1.4 million meals, thereby receiving $4.2 million in compensation.
He was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in 2024.
Ereg was recently placed on the “Most Wanted Fraudster” roster just six days prior.
A composite image shared on the Department of Justice’s X account on June 4, 2026.Department of Justice
“This apprehension marks a significant moment, representing the very first capture of a subject from our Most Wanted Fraudsters List, which was unveiled last week in conjunction with the White House Task Force dedicated to eradicating fraud,” stated Patel.
The previous week, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, alongside other federal officials including Patel and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, visited Ohio to reveal indictments against alleged fraudsters in the region and to introduce the list of wanted fraudsters.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com