Ilhan Omar’s ‘Enforcer’ Pleads Guilty In Fraud Scheme

A former aide to “Squad” Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has pleaded guilty to a sprawling fraud scheme worth millions of dollars, authorities announced.

Guhaad Hashi Said, once known as the progressive lawmaker’s “enforcer” on the ground, is now the 52nd defendant in a case that federal prosecutors claim was meant to bilk the government out of $2.9 million using a fraudulent children’s charity.

Said, 49, pleaded guilty last month in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Authorities say he was among the dozens who claimed to work for Feeding Our Future, a fake charity that purported to deliver nutritious meals to children in need. Hefty bills to the government came during the height of COVID-19 pandemic handouts, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

“Said purported to operate a Federal Child Nutrition Program site under the name Advance Youth Athletic Development. Said incorporated Advance Youth Athletic Development on February 26, 2021, and listed its registered office at a residential apartment unit in the Central Avenue Lofts, an apartment building in Northeast Minneapolis. Said purported to run a federal child nutrition program site from this apartment building,” Thompson explained in a statement.

“Beginning in March 2021, Said and the Advance Youth Athletic Development site submitted meal count sheets claiming to have served 5,000 meals a day to children, seven days a week. Between approximately March and December 2021, Said and the Advance Youth Athletic Development submitted claims for serving more than 1 million meals. In reality, Advance Youth Athletic Development and Said’s claims were grossly inflated, and Said only served a fraction of those meals for which he claimed and received reimbursements. In support of their false claims, Said prepared and submitted fraudulent meal counts, attendance rosters, and invoices.”

Between August and December 2021, Said transferred more than $2.1 million from his organization’s bank accounts to a catering business, and he used the proceeds to purchase cars, real estate, and personal items through a series of shell companies, Thompson said.

Said, who was a candidate for the Minnesota legislature in 2018, now faces up to 25 years in prison, according to Alpha News. He appears to be out on supervised release and will be sentenced at a later date.

The news comes as Rep. Omar remains embroiled in her own multi-million-dollar controversy.

Last month, the Minnesota Democrat reported a net worth between $6 million and $30 million, rising from just $50,000 before she took office. Much of the value was attributed to her husband, a former political consultant and venture capitalist who has seen his portfolio blossom since 2023.