Feeding Our Future: guilty plea #27, sentencing #3
Today, at the federal courthouse in downtown Minneapolis, the 27th guilty plea was entered in the Feeding Our Future case.
Sharmake Jama, Defendant No. 39, became conviction No. 32 in the sprawling free-food scandal, including five defendants who were convicted in a jury trial last year. Jama was the lead defendant of the six-member Jama family group of defendants, associated with the Brava Restaurant and Cafe of Rochester.
Jama pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Sentencing guidelines would fall to between four and five years in prison. A sentencing date has yet to be set.
The U.S. Attorney’s press release can be read here.
The plea agreement filed today (page 2) draws connections between Jama and Aimee Bock and Salim Said, the latter two defendants being scheduled to stand trial in the broader case beginning on Monday.
In the plea agreement (p. 3), Jama admits to taking $5.3 million out of the free-food programs through Brava Restaurant. Money went to buying a GMC Denali truck and homes in Rochester and Rosemount, among other items.
The truck, the homes, and about $120,000 in bank accounts are subject to forfeiture. And, at least on paper, Jama is on the hook for the remainder of the $5.3 million.
A 28th guilty plea is scheduled to be entered tomorrow afternoon, January 30. Mohamed Noor of Xogmaal Media (Defendant No. 49) is scheduled to appear before Judge Joan Eriksen.
A 29th guilty plea has been scheduled for Friday, January 31. It’s another from the Jama group and it’s believed to be Ayan Jama, Defendant No. 40 in the overall case.
Next week, on February 7, we have the third sentencing scheduled for the scandal. Sharon Ross, Defendant No. 60 in the case, entered Guilty Plea No. 17 more than a year ago. She will be the first of the (by then) 29 guilty pleas to be sentenced.
Ross was the founder of the House of Refuge Outreach nonprofit, most recently of St. Paul.
She was indicted in a one-person, stand-alone case. Prosecutors are asking for a prison sentence of 46 months, almost 4 years. Defense attorneys are asking for probation.
In other Feeding Our Future news:
A change of plea announcement was filed today in the related juror bribery case. It’s believed to be for Abdulkarim Farah, the younger, half-brother of the two other remaining defendants in the case. A date of March 5 has reportedly been set aside for the hearing.
Liban Alishire, Defendant No. 36 and Guilty Plea No. 6, is currently in Nairobi, Kenya, and is seeking to extend his African journey by an additional three weeks.