The FBI is offering a hefty reward for information that leads them to a Minneapolis man accused of pocketing millions of dollars meant to feed hungry children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal authorities announced a reward of up to $150,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Said Abdullahi Ereg, who has been has been wanted for over two years.
According to the FBI, Ereg operated a grocery store and deli in South Minneapolis. During the pandemic, the business enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of the non-profit organization Feeding Our Future.
RELATED: Feeding Our Future ringleader sentenced to over 41 years in federal child nutrition scheme
Feds say the business was used as a front for massive fraud. Between April 2020 and April 2021, the deli allegedly claimed to have served more than 1.4 million meals to children in need….
THE TUTUKA POWER STATION PROCUREMENT FRAUD (ESKOM)
Date: August 29, 2025 Perpetrator: Jessie Phindile Kubheka (Supplier Director)
Case Description: As part of the ongoing “cleaning up” of Eskom, Jessie Phindile Kubheka was sentenced to 12 years (with 5 years suspended) for defrauding the Tutuka Power Station. The case involved a sophisticated procurement syndicate that exploited Eskom’s emergency repair protocols. Kubheka’s company was contracted to deliver three high-specification containers for the power station. Only one container was ever delivered, and even that single unit failed to meet the required safety and technical specifications.
Despite the lack of delivery, Kubheka issued grossly inflated invoices, defrauding the utility of approximately R2.6 million. The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court ordered Kubheka to repay the full amount. This case is significant because it marks a shift in Eskom’s strategy toward “naming and shaming” suppliers and pursuing full asset recovery. It serves as a stark warning to contractors that the 2026 climate of “Zero Tolerance” for state-owned enterprise (SOE) fraud is backed by active judicial enforcement.
Link to Original: Eskom Official – Tutuka Fraud Sentencing