Minnesota Nonprofit Leader Convicted in $240 Million Pandemic Relief Fraud -

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In a landmark case of pandemic relief fraud, Aimee Bock, the leader of a Minnesota-based anti-hunger nonprofit, was convicted on Wednesday for orchestrating a massive scheme that defrauded the U.S. government of over $240 million. The fraud involved an extensive network of fake food kitchens that billed the government for 91 million nonexistent meals.

Bock, 44, was found guilty in U.S. District Court on seven counts, including wire fraud and bribery. Another key figure in the scheme, Salim Said, 36, who managed one of the fraudulent kitchens, was convicted on 20 counts, including the same charges. The convictions mark a significant development in what federal prosecutors have described as the largest known fraud against COVID-19 relief programs.

The fraudulent operation involved at least 70 individuals, over 40 of whom have pleaded guilty or been convicted. The scandal gained additional notoriety last year when a juror in a separate related case was targeted with a bribe attempt, in which $120,000 in cash was left at her home in a Hallmark gift bag. Five people were later charged with bribery in connection with that incident.

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Following the verdict, Judge Nancy Brasel ordered Bock and Said to remain in jail until sentencing, where they face potential prison terms exceeding a decade.

The scheme exploited two federally funded programs designed to feed hungry children, which were administered by the state of Minnesota. These programs depended on nonprofit “sponsors” to oversee feeding sites and ensure proper distribution of resources. When the federal government relaxed oversight during the pandemic to expedite aid, Bock, as the leader of Feeding Our Future, used her position to manipulate the system.

Prosecutors revealed that Bock and her co-conspirators established approximately 250 fake feeding sites across Minnesota. Her nonprofit fraudulently collected $18 million as a result. Some operations reported feeding thousands of children daily, despite operating from locations as improbable as a second-floor apartment.

The ill-gotten funds were spent on luxury lifestyles, with members of the network purchasing homes, cars, and commercial properties. Bock allegedly used the money to finance trips to Las Vegas and rent high-end sports cars.

In 2020, state officials suspected fraud and attempted to cut funding to certain sites. Bock responded by suing the state, alleging discrimination against African immigrants. The case prompted an FBI investigation, culminating in the 2022 raid that exposed the massive fraud scheme.