Minneapolis, MN — In a major development in one of the largest pandemic-era fraud cases in the United States, a federal jury has convicted Safari Restaurant co-owner Salim Said and Feeding Our Future executive director Aimee Bock on multiple charges related to defrauding $12 million from USDA child nutrition programs. The verdict, delivered in March 2025, highlights systemic vulnerabilities exploited during the COVID-19 crisis as part of a broader $250 million scheme that has drawn national scrutiny.
The convictions stem from a sophisticated operation in which Said and Bock misused funds intended to feed underserved children. Prosecutors argued that Safari Restaurant, a Somali eatery based in Minneapolis, falsely claimed to distribute up to 6,000 meals per day through the USDA’s child nutrition initiatives, which were expanded during the pandemic to address food insecurity. However, FBI surveillance conducted in late 2021 painted a very different picture: over a six-week period, agents observed only about 40 visitors entering the premises—far fewer than the reported figures.
According to court documents, the pair relied on fabricated invoices, inflated meal counts, and “ghost rosters” of nonexistent children to siphon off federal dollars. These tactics were part of a larger conspiracy involving the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which acted as a sponsor for meal distribution sites. Bock, as the organization’s executive director, was accused of orchestrating bribes and kickbacks to facilitate the fraud, while Said handled the restaurant’s day-to-day claims. The jury found both defendants guilty of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, money laundering, and bribery after deliberating on extensive evidence presented during the trial.
“This case underscores the importance of accountability in public programs designed to protect our most vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger in a statement following the verdict. “The defendants exploited a time of national crisis for personal gain, diverting resources meant for children in need.”
The Safari Restaurant fraud is just one strand in a massive web of deceit that federal investigators say diverted more than $250 million in misappropriated funds across multiple Minnesota-based organizations. Feeding Our Future, which oversaw reimbursements for meal providers, saw its payouts skyrocket from $3.4 million in 2019 to over $200 million by 2021, fueled by relaxed USDA rules during the pandemic.
A 2024 state audit by the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor further exposed significant lapses in oversight by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). The report criticized MDE for approving sites without proper verification, ignoring red flags such as unusually high meal claims, and failing to conduct adequate site visits. “The department’s processes were insufficient to detect and prevent fraud on this scale,” the audit concluded, recommending sweeping reforms to prevent future abuses.
Sentencing for Said and Bock is scheduled for later this year, with potential penalties including lengthy prison terms and restitution orders. The case has sparked renewed calls for enhanced federal monitoring of nutrition programs, particularly in light of similar fraud allegations in other states during the pandemic.
As investigations continue, authorities have charged dozens of individuals connected to the broader scheme, several of whom have already pleaded guilty. In response, the USDA has tightened its guidelines, implementing stricter auditing procedures and real-time reporting requirements to safeguard taxpayer dollars.
