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Feeding Our Future Leaders Convicted in $250 Million Pandemic Fraud Scheme

Aimee Bock and Salim Said found guilty of orchestrating one of the largest COVID-19 relief frauds in U.S. history.

The plaza outside the Diana E. Murphy United States Courthouse in Minneapolis is shown covered in snow on Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)
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Overview

  • Aimee Bock, founder of Feeding Our Future, and Salim Said, owner of Safari Restaurant, were convicted on March 19, 2025, for defrauding federal child nutrition programs.
  • The scheme falsely claimed to have served 91 million meals to children, securing nearly $250 million in federal funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Funds were diverted for personal use, including luxury homes, cars, and international properties, with over $75 million in assets seized by authorities to date.
  • The fraud exploited relaxed USDA regulations during the pandemic, allowing for-profit entities and off-site food distribution to participate in nutrition programs.
  • With over 70 defendants implicated, 37 have pleaded guilty, and additional trials are set for 2025, making this one of the largest pandemic-related fraud cases.