Aimee Bock, the former founder of Feeding Our Future, was sentenced to 500 months in federal prison after being convicted in one of the largest pandemic fraud cases in U.S. history.
Prosecutors said Bock’s and her co-conspirator Salim Said’s scheme resulted in $250 million in stolen COVID-19 food relief funds intended to help feed children.
In the press release, Bock and her co-conspirators carry out the scheme by creating shell companies to enroll in the federal food program and launder fraudulent proceeds. Feeding Our Future collected more than $18 million, as reported by DOJ, in administrative fees it was not entitled to receive. Prosecutors also said employees solicited bribes and kickbacks from individuals and businesses tied to the program, with many payments made in cash or disguised as “consulting fees” through shell companies created to appear legitimate.
Investigators report that Bock and her co-conspirator, Said, created fake meal counts and forged paperwork and attendance records to siphon millions of taxpayer dollars for meals that were never delivered.
According to the DOJ press release, the money was spent on luxury cars, residential & commercial properties in Minnesota, and international travel.
The scheme is described by Christopher D. Dotson, Special Agent of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office as “one of the largest frauds against a social service program ever,” orchestrated by Bock and her co-conspirators.
Bock was also ordered to repay roughly $243 million, according to CBS News. The investigation has resulted in dozens of convictions and charges connected to the massive fraud operation.
Said is set to be sentenced on Aug. 18th, Assistant United States Attorney Joseph S. Teirab, as reported by USA Today.
