U.S. Man Jailed for Using Stolen COVID Funds to Build Luxury Apartments in Nairobi
A Somali-American businessman has been sentenced to 28 years in a U.S. federal prison after being found guilty of stealing COVID-19 relief funds and using the money to build a luxury apartment block in Nairobi, Kenya.
The 36-year-old man, identified as a key figure in one of the largest COVID-19 fraud schemes in the U.S., was convicted of leading a multi-million-dollar scam that exploited a government program designed to provide meals to needy children during the pandemic.
Instead of helping the vulnerable, he siphoned off at least $42 million (about Ksh5.4 billion), channeling the money into buying luxury items and investing in properties—including a 12-storey high-end apartment building in Nairobi that is still under construction.
According to U.S. court documents and reports by Sahan Journal, the man took approximately $8 million (Ksh1.03 billion) for personal use.
This money went toward buying expensive cars, financing an extravagant lifestyle in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and supporting real estate ventures in Nairobi. U.S. prosecutors said that at least $1 million (Ksh129.2 million) was sent abroad specifically to fund the Nairobi apartment project.
During the sentencing, Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson called out the businessman’s actions, while U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel described the fraud as “breathtakingly elaborate,” saying it was driven purely by “unmitigated greed.” She added that the consequences of this crime would be felt for years, particularly among the Somali-American refugee community, which had already faced enough struggles.
Federal prosecutors ranked the businessman among the most notorious culprits in the “Feeding Our Future” scandal, a fraudulent scheme estimated to have stolen between $300 and $400 million (roughly Ksh38.8 billion to Ksh51.7 billion).
The man used his restaurant in Minnesota, Empire Cuisine & Deli, as a front to submit fake documents, including false invoices and attendance records, for food distribution events that never actually happened.
Investigators revealed that the businessman transferred large sums of money to offshore accounts and made efforts to escape justice.
He was arrested at the airport in 2022 while attempting to flee to Kenya using a fake passport, as the FBI had already seized his original travel documents. He had booked a one-way flight to Nairobi when he was apprehended.
His legal troubles deepened in 2024 when he was found guilty of trying to bribe a juror during his trial. He pleaded guilty in that case and is expected to receive an additional 8 to 10 years in prison for jury tampering.
Before being sentenced, the businessman made a tearful apology in court. He expressed deep remorse for his actions, particularly the pain and shame he brought upon his family. “I have destroyed everything I worked for,” he said emotionally. “I’ve missed many of the milestones. My family doesn’t deserve this.”
His wife and more than 20 supporters were present in court, many of them visibly emotional and crying as he spoke. Despite his apology, the court remained firm, highlighting that he had been given numerous opportunities to live the American dream.
Judge Brasel told him: “You achieved the American dream. But when the pandemic came and people tried to help others, you chose to enrich yourself instead.”
So far, U.S. authorities have managed to recover between $60 and $75 million (around Ksh7.75 billion to Ksh9.7 billion) of the stolen funds. However, investigators believe a significant amount remains unaccounted for, especially the money that was transferred to foreign accounts.
The Nairobi apartment project is now under investigation as part of a broader international probe into how stolen COVID-19 relief funds were laundered and spent abroad.
Kenyan officials have not yet released any public statements about whether they plan to seize or freeze the luxury property that was allegedly funded with the stolen U.S. taxpayer money.
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