Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have secured guilty pleas from two Somali brothers accused of siphoning nearly $4 million in taxpayer-funded housing subsidies through a web of false claims and sham operations. The case adds fuel to a growing fire of welfare fraud allegations centered in the state’s Somali communities, where investigators say billions have vanished from programs meant to aid the vulnerable.
Anwar Adow and Asad Ahmed Adow, both in their 30s and residents of the Minneapolis area, admitted to defrauding the Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program by inventing clients and fabricating housing deals. According to court documents, the brothers operated Leo Human Services and Liberty Plus LLC, claiming to assist individuals with relocation costs.
In reality, they pocketed reimbursements for nonexistent services, using the cash for personal gain. “The defendants exploited a program designed to help vulnerable people secure housing by submitting fraudulent claims for services that were never provided,” Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said in a statement.