Aimee Bock, the founder and former executive director of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, has been sentenced to 41 years and 8 months (500 months) in federal prison for her central role in what prosecutors described as one of the largest pandemic-era fraud schemes in the United States.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel handed down the sentence on May 21, 2026, in Minneapolis federal court. Bock was also ordered to pay more than $243 million in restitution to the federal government for defrauding a child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This was a vortex of fraud, and you were at the epicenter,” Judge Brasel told Bock, according to court reports. The judge emphasized that the lengthy sentence was necessary to deliver justice for Minnesota taxpayers and the children the program was intended to serve.
However in a stunning jailhouse interview just days before her sentencing, Aimee Bock the convicted ringleader of Minnesota’s massive Feeding Our Future fraud case claimed that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) was aware of serious issues in the program that stole roughly $250 million in federal child nutrition funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Bock Alleged
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Bock told the New York Post she “struggles to believe” Omar did not know about the scale of the fraud. She pointed to:
• At least six email and text exchanges between her and Omar’s office.
• Omar’s role in introducing the MEALS Act, which created waivers that allegedly allowed the scheme to expand rapidly.
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• Instances where Omar’s office reportedly helped renew waivers during gaps, keeping the funding flowing.
Bock claimed she notified officials about suspicious activity, yet the fraud continued.
Omar’s Response
Rep. Omar has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the fraud, calling the scheme “reprehensible” and stating she had no awareness of wrongdoing. She has condemned the misuse of funds meant for children and says her office’s involvement was limited to standard constituent services and pandemic relief legislation that passed with bipartisan support.
Background on the Case
• Feeding Our Future, under Bock’s leadership, sponsored hundreds of meal sites that submitted claims for millions of meals that prosecutors say were never served.
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• Bock was sentenced on May 21, 2026, to 41.5 years (500 months) in federal prison and ordered to pay over $243 million in restitution.
• The case has resulted in dozens of convictions, many involving individuals in Minnesota’s Somali community.
Details of the Massive Fraud
Feeding Our Future participated in the federally funded Child Nutrition Program. During the pandemic, when meal distribution rules were relaxed, the organization sponsored hundreds of meal sites across Minnesota. Prosecutors proved that Bock and associates submitted fraudulent claims for meals that were never served.
Key elements of the scheme included:
- Fraudulently obtaining and disbursing over $240–250 million in federal funds
- Falsely claiming to have served tens of millions of meals to children
- Distributing kickbacks to participating vendors and restaurants
- Using proceeds for luxury purchases, including high-end vehicles, real estate, travel, and personal items
Bock was convicted by a federal jury in 2025 on multiple counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and bribery-related charges. Her co-defendant in the trial, Salim Said, was also convicted.3
Sentencing Hearing Highlights
Federal prosecutors had sought a 50-year sentence, describing Bock as the ringleader. Her defense attorney requested just three years. Bock addressed the court through tears, acknowledging responsibility and expressing regret:
“I made mistakes, so many mistakes. If I could go back, I would do everything differently. I don’t have the words to express just how horrible I feel.”1
The sentence of 500 months is one of the harshest handed down in the broader Feeding Our Future investigation, which has led to nearly 80 people charged and over 60 convictions or guilty pleas.
Broader Impact and Ongoing Cases
The scandal sparked significant scrutiny of oversight by state agencies, including the Minnesota Department of Education, and raised questions about pandemic relief program vulnerabilities. Much of the fraud allegedly targeted programs serving Somali-American communities in Minnesota, with many defendants linked to those sites.
The case remains active, with additional defendants facing charges. Recent developments include the July 2026 transfer of another alleged participant from Somalia to face justice in Minnesota.
Bock, now 45, has appealed her conviction and sentence and remains in custody.
Why This Case Matters
The Feeding Our Future fraud stands as a stark example of how emergency aid programs can be exploited. Funds intended to feed hungry children during a public health crisis instead enriched a network of individuals through elaborate false claims. The stiff sentence signals a strong federal commitment to deterring similar large-scale fraud in the future.
For official updates, refer to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota or court records.
This article is based on public records and reporting from the U.S. Department of Justice and major Minnesota news outlets.
