Brooklyn Park Business Owner Pleads Guilty in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme
The owner of a Brooklyn Park company that claimed to serve meals to low-income children using federal funds has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, according to a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.
Haji Salad, 34, admitted to receiving more than $11 million in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.
Salad had started Haji’s Kitchen that claimed to serve millions of free meals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company received millions in federal funds as reimbursement for the meals.
According to federal charges, only a “minimal portion” of the meals were actually served.
Instead U.S. prosecutors say Salad took some of the money to purchase properties and luxury vehicles.
Haji Salad in a 2021 interview with CCX News
As part of a plea agreement, Salad is required to pay back back $11.4 million in restitution. He also must forfeit properties and vehicles purchased with federal funds.
He is expected to receive a prison sentence of between 5 1/4 years and 6 1/2 years.
Salad is the 20th person to plead guilty in the Feeding Our Future scheme, one of the largest pandemic fraud cases in the United States.
Related: Plymouth Woman Pleads Guilty in Federal Child Nutrition Fraud Scheme
