Minnesota restaurant operator convicted on 21 federal counts after prosecutors uncovered millions in fraudulent child nutrition claims, kickbacks and luxury purchases.
By Lucretia Hughes
MINNEAPOLIS — A central figure in Minnesota’s massive Feeding Our Future fraud scandal was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $44 million in restitution for his involvement in a scheme that diverted taxpayer funds intended to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Salim Ahmed Said 37, co-owner of the former Safari Restaurant in south Minneapolis, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel following his conviction on 21 federal charges, including wire fraud, bribery and money laundering.
The sentencing represents another major development in one of the nation’s largest pandemic-related fraud investigations, which exposed widespread abuse of federally funded child nutrition programs.
Judge Condemns Fraud and Damage to Public Trust
During Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, Brasel sharply criticized Said for exploiting a government program designed to assist vulnerable children.
The judge said Said had damaged Minnesota’s reputation while enriching himself through fraudulent claims.
Brasel also expressed concern that the scandal had undermined public confidence in government institutions responsible for safeguarding taxpayer money.
Prosecutors had requested a 40-year prison sentence, arguing that Said played a central role in expanding the fraudulent operation.
His defense attorneys sought a substantially shorter sentence, maintaining that Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock, rather than Said, directed the overall scheme.
The judge ultimately imposed a 30-year sentence.
Thousands of Meals Claimed, Few People Seen
Federal prosecutors presented evidence showing that Said and his associates submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims for meals supposedly distributed to thousands of children.
At one point, Safari Restaurant claimed to distribute approximately 6,000 meals daily.
However, FBI surveillance documented approximately 40 people collecting food at the location on a typical day, according to prosecutors.
Investigators also uncovered fabricated meal counts, falsified invoices and attendance records containing names of children who did not exist.
Prosecutors said the fraudulent claims continued for approximately 21 months, allowing millions of dollars to flow through businesses and organizations participating in the federal nutrition program.
The operation expanded through a network of purported meal distribution sites connected to Said and his associates.
Authorities determined that the Safari Restaurant network was responsible for approximately $44 million in fraudulent claims.
Taxpayer Money Used for Luxury Purchases
Rather than directing federal funds toward feeding children, prosecutors said Said and his associates diverted millions into personal accounts, real estate and expensive purchases.
Evidence presented during the proceedings connected the fraud proceeds to several major acquisitions, including:
- A luxury residence in Plymouth, Minnesota, valued at approximately $1.2 million and featuring an indoor basketball court.
- Commercial real estate purchased with proceeds from the scheme.
- Expensive vehicles, including a pickup truck valued at approximately $87,000.
- Additional properties and financial transactions connected to the fraudulent operation.
Prosecutors also described kickback payments used to maintain relationships with individuals overseeing the nonprofit’s participation in the federal program.
The court previously ordered the forfeiture of approximately $7.8 million and additional assets connected to Said.
Feeding Our Future Founder Also Sentenced
Said was convicted in 2025 during the same federal trial as Aimee Bock, founder of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future.
Bock was convicted for her role in organizing the broader scheme, which involved hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent reimbursement claims.
She subsequently received a prison sentence of nearly 42 years and was ordered to repay approximately $242 million.
Federal investigators have charged 81 defendants in connection with the sprawling fraud investigation, with dozens of convictions obtained.
The case exposed how emergency changes to federal child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic created opportunities for fraudulent claims.
Under temporary pandemic rules, restaurants and other organizations were permitted to participate in meal distribution programs that traditionally operated through schools and established community organizations.
Investigators determined that participants exploited those changes by submitting reimbursement requests for meals that were never provided.
Questions Remain About Government Oversight
Beyond the criminal convictions, the Feeding Our Future investigation has raised serious questions about government oversight and the protection of federal taxpayer dollars.
Minnesota’s Department of Education was responsible for administering the federal nutrition programs involved in the scandal.
State auditors subsequently identified failures in the department’s oversight procedures, including its handling of complaints and concerns about Feeding Our Future.
The findings intensified scrutiny of how state agencies monitored organizations receiving millions in federal assistance.
The scandal has also become a national political issue, with President Donald Trump repeatedly criticizing Minnesota officials over the failure to prevent widespread fraud.
While the criminal convictions establish the responsibility of individual defendants, questions about institutional oversight remain central to the public debate.
Said Apologizes Before Sentencing
During Wednesday’s hearing, Said expressed remorse for his involvement in the fraudulent operation.
His attorneys urged the court to consider his difficult childhood in Somalia and argued that he was not the principal architect of the scheme.
Brasel acknowledged his personal history but determined that it did not excuse the extensive fraud.
The judge also noted that Said, a lawful permanent resident rather than a U.S. citizen, could face deportation following his imprisonment.
He was additionally sentenced to three years of supervised release.
A Scandal That Continues to Unfold
The 30-year sentence marks another significant chapter in the Feeding Our Future investigation, but the broader consequences extend beyond those already convicted.
The case demonstrated how weaknesses in government oversight, combined with emergency pandemic spending programs, allowed fraudulent operators to obtain tens of millions of dollars intended for children and families.
With additional defendants facing prosecution and millions in taxpayer funds still subject to recovery efforts, federal authorities continue working through the consequences of the scheme.
For Minnesota taxpayers, the convictions have brought criminal accountability to several major participants.
Whether government agencies have implemented sufficient safeguards to prevent similar abuses remains a separate and consequential question.
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