Another member of a Minnesota family tied to a large federal fraud case is expected to plead guilty, according to court records and reporting, amid new calls to deport Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar over claims she committed fraud to enter the U.S. years ago.
Gandi Mohamed, 45, is scheduled to enter a plea at a hearing Thursday, where he could plead guilty or no contest in connection with the scheme, Fox9 Minneapolis reported.
Prosecutors allege the family fraudulently claimed to provide meals through a federal child nutrition program while diverting approximately $14 million for personal use. Authorities say Mohamed is the sixth member of his family to face conviction in the case.
Center of the American Experiment policy fellow Bill Glahn told Fox News Digital that “it’s good that he and his co-conspirators have all been convicted in the case, however, a courtroom trial would have been a useful exercise to show the public the scope and scale of the fraud.”
The Mohamed family attended the now-infamous meeting in 2021, where Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison met with members of the Somali community. During the meeting, individuals attempting to commit fraud could be heard asking the attorney general for assistance in securing additional funding. The discussion later shifted to the topic of campaign donations.
“The only way that we can protect what we have is by inserting ourselves into the political arena. Putting our votes where it needs to be. But most importantly, putting our dollars in the right place. And supporting candidates that will fight to protect our interests,” one of the Somali community members says in the recording. Ellis responded: “That’s right.”
Ellison has denied any wrongdoing related to the recording, stating that he was completely unaware of the fraudsters’ crimes during the meeting. This meeting took place before any convictions in the case and prior to any indictments by President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice.
“Our Attorney General, Keith Ellison, is not only looking the other way but doing so after taking donations from these very fraudsters,” Republican Dalia al-Aqidi, who is running against Omar, told Fox News Digital. “This is a betrayal of every Minnesotan who trusted him with that office.”
“Which is why I’ve rolled out a five-point plan to prevent fraud before it starts,” al-Aqidi said, adding that people in Omar’s district are “furious” about the scandal.
“This isn’t just about taxpayers, it’s about people who really need food and housing. Preventing fraud isn’t complicated; it just takes the political will to stop this type of abuse. It’s clear that this scheme is being used to buy votes, and that has to stop,” he said.
Meanwhile, an unofficial X account is calling for Omar to be extradited to the Republic of Somaliland after Vice President JD Vance said in a recent interview that she “definitely” committed marriage fraud to enter the U.S. in the early 2000’s.
“Deportation? Please, you’re just sending the princess back to her kingdom. Extradition? Say the word …” the post from the RepofSomaliland account read.
In the interview, the vice president and leading 2028 GOP presidential contender said he has spoken with White House immigration advisor Stephen Miller about legal action against Omar, saying, “We think Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America.”
“We’re trying to look at what the remedies are,” Vance told interviewer Benny Johnson. “That’s the thing that we’re trying to figure out: what are the legal remedies now that we know that she’s committed immigration fraud — how do you go after her, how do you investigate her, how do you actually do the thing, how do you build a case necessary to get some justice for the American people?”