Minnesota Feeding Our Future Fraud Uncovered: $250 Million in Stolen Meal Funds Spent on Mansions and Luxury Cars
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — In one of the most egregious cases of pandemic-era fraud, federal prosecutors have exposed a sprawling $250 million scheme that diverted funds intended to feed hungry children into luxury mansions, high-end vehicles, and lavish lifestyles. At the center of the scandal is Aimee Bock, founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit organization tasked with providing meals to needy children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bock, convicted by a federal jury in March 2025 on charges of wire fraud, conspiracy, and bribery, was described by prosecutors as the mastermind behind the scheme. Feeding Our Future claimed to have served 91 million meals, but investigations revealed that many of the meal sites were sham operations, approved and certified by Bock herself to secure reimbursements from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). The federal funds, intended to support child nutrition programs, were instead funneled into personal enrichment.
According to court exhibits obtained by Fox News Digital, the stolen funds financed extravagant purchases including luxury homes and vehicles. Salim Said, a local restaurant owner and co-conspirator, used $250,000 of the stolen nutrition funds to acquire a large home in Plymouth, Minnesota. Additionally, a $2.7 million wire transfer linked to the fraud was used to purchase a mansion-style office building in Minneapolis, which served as the headquarters for Said’s company, Safari Group. This opulence starkly contrasted with the daycare centers and after-school programs the federal money was meant to support.
Among the luxury items purchased were a black 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA and a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, both bought with fraudulently obtained funds. Said operated Safari Restaurant, which prosecutors say was part of the elaborate scheme to launder stolen money.
The investigation, which has led to indictments against at least 78 individuals, is one of the largest pandemic-relief fraud probes in U.S. history. Federal authorities, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota and the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, have been instrumental in uncovering the network of fraud.
This case highlights the challenges faced by government agencies in safeguarding billions of dollars in emergency relief funds disbursed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, which oversees federal child nutrition programs, has emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency in the distribution of these funds.
Prosecutors say that Bock and Said’s scheme exploited the urgency of pandemic relief efforts, betraying public trust and depriving vulnerable children of critical nutrition. The Minnesota Department of Education, responsible for administering meal reimbursements, has since tightened oversight measures to prevent similar abuses.
As the investigation continues, authorities remain vigilant in pursuing those responsible for defrauding taxpayers and undermining essential social programs. The Feeding Our Future case serves as a stark reminder of the need for rigorous enforcement and oversight in federal aid programs to ensure that funds reach those they are intended to help.
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