WASHINGTON — Federal authorities have made the first arrest linked to the Justice Department’s newly launched “Most Wanted Fraudsters” initiative, taking into custody a Minnesota man accused of fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars from a federal child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said this week.
The FBI announced on Wednesday that Said Abdullahi Ereg, a former Minneapolis grocery and deli owner, surrendered to federal authorities after being named on the newly created watchlist less than a week earlier. Ereg faces federal charges including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, according to the FBI and court records.
The arrest marks the first apprehension of an individual publicly identified through the Justice Department’s “Most Wanted Fraudsters” program, an initiative unveiled in cooperation with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. The list is intended to highlight fugitives and defendants accused in major fraud cases and encourage public awareness of ongoing investigations.
“Today’s arrest is historic – the first ever arrest of a subject on our Most Wanted Fraudsters List released last week with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement released by the bureau.
Federal prosecutors allege that Ereg operated Evergreen Grocery and Deli in Minneapolis and participated in a scheme connected to Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit organization that received federal funds intended to provide meals to children. Prosecutors contend that Ereg falsely claimed to have served large numbers of meals and improperly received more than $4 million in federal reimbursements. They further allege that portions of the funds were laundered through foreign accounts.
The Feeding Our Future investigation has become one of the largest pandemic-era fraud cases pursued by federal authorities. Prosecutors have alleged that hundreds of millions of dollars in federal nutrition funds were improperly obtained through false claims submitted by multiple participants in the program. Court proceedings involving numerous defendants remain ongoing.
According to the FBI, Ereg had been charged in 2024 and was outside the United States for an extended period before communicating through legal counsel that he was willing to return and face the charges. Officials said he surrendered upon arrival in Minnesota.
Ereg’s attorney had not publicly responded to the latest allegations as of Thursday, and court filings reviewed by news organizations did not indicate a plea. Under U.S. law, criminal charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Details regarding future court appearances remain unclear.
Federal officials said the “Most Wanted Fraudsters” initiative will continue to identify suspects accused of major financial crimes as authorities pursue additional investigations nationwide.
