ST. PAUL, MN — A Minnesota housing developer is accused of fraud.
Attorney General Keith Ellison says Abdiwali Abdullahi targeted Somali-Americans seeking housing in his proposed housing development in Lakeville. The lawsuit alleges the defendant fraudulently advertised the homes, interest plans, and construction timelines to customers looking to secure a spot at the Nolosha housing complex. Most of those buyers were asked to make a $25,000 down payment.
“If you are selling a product, you need to be honest with your customers about what that product is,” said Attorney General Ellison in a statement. “Promising your customers the world, taking massive upfront payments from them, then failing to deliver on those promises is fraud, plain and simple. After numerous complaints to my Office, we discovered a pattern of fraudulent behavior on the part of Nolosha and we are taking action to bring it to an end.”
The lawsuit seeks full refunds for the hundreds of families who paid the significant amount.
