Feeding Our Future: sentence #19

Mustafa Jama, Feeding Our Future defendant No. 42 (out of 80), became just the 19th defendant sentenced in the free food-fraud scandal this afternoon at the federal courthouse in downtown Minneapolis. Your correspondent was there.

Jama is part of a six-member family group indicted in the case. They operated the fraud out of their Brava Restaurant located in Rochester.

Federal district Judge Nancy Brasel sentenced Jama to just over a year in prison (14 months). Sentencing guidelines called for a sentence of around two (2) years. Prosecutors had requested a sentence of 16 months, while the defense argued for just six months. Indeed, two of Jama’s co-conspirators received just six months in prison.

Mustafa is also obligated to repay $1,429,730 in restitution to federal taxpayers. That dollar amount equals the sum he laundered through his shell corporation into residential real estate in Minnesota and Ohio, and a seaside property in Turkey.

Jama was assisted throughout today’s hearing by a taxpayer-paid, Somali-language interpreter.

Jama’s attorney reports that his client is currently employed at a cheese factory. He is scheduled to report for prison on August 5.

Over the next two months, the court calendar is packed with events in the Feeding Our Future case,

Stay tuned!