Eagan Woman Bought Tesla With Funds Intended For Needy Kids: Feds

EAGAN, MN — An Eagan woman used the money she fraudulently received from the Federal Child Nutrition Program to buy a Tesla Model X and Infiniti QX56 SUV, according to prosecutors.

Kawsar Jama, 41, is one of the 10 newest defendants charged in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud case. She faces five counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering.

The charges were announced Monday by U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger.

Jama was the principal of Gedo Community Services and Ahlan Childcare Center, Inc., authorities said. She enrolled both organizations in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future, according to prosecutors.

From September 2020 through February 2022, Jama falsely claimed to have served approximately 1.46 million meals to needy children at sites in Pelican Rapids, Burnsville, and Minneapolis, investigators said.

Jama submitted $3.7 million in fraudulent claims for federal funds, according to prosecutors.

She then spent that money on living expenses, real estate, and two luxury vehicles, authorities said.

Also read: MN Feeding Our Future Fraud Case: 10 More Charged