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Aimee Bock, $250M Pandemic Fraud Scheme, Minnesota 2024
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury has found Aimee Bock, 44, and Salim Said, 36, guilty of their roles in a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to the indictment, Bock was the founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit organization that was a sponsor participating in the Federal Child Nutrition Program. Said was a former co-owner of Safari Restaurant. Together, they oversaw a massive fraud scheme carried out by sites under Feeding Our Future’s sponsorship.
The scheme involved Feeding Our Future employees recruiting individuals and entities to open Federal Child Nutrition Program sites, which would then submit false claims for reimbursement to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The defendants and their co-conspirators used the proceeds of the scheme to fund their lavish lifestyles, purchasing luxury homes, cars, and other expensive items.
“Aimee Bock and Salim Said took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to carry out a massive fraud scheme that stole money meant to feed children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “The defendants falsely claimed to have served 91 million meals, for which they fraudulently received nearly $250 million in federal funds. That money did not go to feed kids. Instead, it was used to fund their lavish lifestyles. Today’s verdict sends a message to the community that fraud against the government will not be tolerated.”
“Stealing from the federal government is stealing from the American people – plain and simple. The egregious fraud uncovered in the Feeding our Future case represents the blatant betrayal of public trust. These criminals stole hundreds of millions in federal funding meant to feed hungry children during a crisis and instead funneled it into luxury homes, cars and lavish lifestyles while families struggled,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis.
The case was investigated by the FBI, IRS, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in June 2023, and the trial began in February 2024.
Bock and Said face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and each count of wire fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for June 2024.
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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