Muqtar Sharif, a Somali-American who was found by the court to have embezzled 47 million and was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison.

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Mukhtar Mohamed Sharif, 34 years old, from Minnesota was sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in prison, after he embezzled 47 million dollars, the money intended to feed Somali children.

Acting US Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick announced that the man was also ordered to pay $47,920,514 in restitution.

“The accused committed a blatant fraud and illegally misappropriated funds intended to feed children during the Covid19 pandemic. He pocketed millions of dollars in his own pocket and that of others. “The court also found that he persisted in his crime by obstructing the law. This harsh sentence is a clear warning to anyone who tries to abuse government-sponsored programs,” said Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

According to the court, this man and his associates embezzled millions of dollars from the Child Nutrition Program of the United States Federal Government.

Mukhtar, who is the general manager of Afrique Hospitality Group, was found to have illegally received and used millions of dollars to pay for children’s meals. He was accused of creating false documents showing the number of children and meals given to the program’s supported sites, as well as providing invoices and lists of false children that did not exist.

The Federal Child Nutrition Program, administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is designed to provide free meals to children in need. During COVID-19.