First CCAP fraud charge tied to Feeding Our Future scheme; Minnesota childcare operators charged

Federal prosecutors charged Fahima Egeh Mahamud with conspiracy to defraud the CCAP in the Feeding Our Future scheme, alleging her Minneapolis center filed more than 13,000 CCAP claims and claimed about $4.6 million in reimbursements without required parental co-pays, plus $854,000 in related reimbursements; separately, Jillaine Mertens, owner of three Minnesota childcare centers, is charged with wire fraud for inflating hours and filing fraudulent payroll claims to obtain about $425,000 in Great Start funds.