30-year sentence in Minnesota fraud that drew Trump backlash
Summary
Salim Said, 37, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in defrauding a federal child-feeding program in Minnesota during the COVID-19 pandemic. The case has drawn national attention and criticism from President Donald Trump of Minnesota officials; Said expressed remorse at sentencing after denying the allegations at trial.Key Facts
- Prosecutors said Said, who operated Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, submitted false claims for meals that were not provided to children.
- The government said the fraud attributed to Said totaled $44 million, including funds linked to people he recruited.
- Prosecutors said Said claimed his sites distributed 6,000 meals a day, while FBI surveillance showed about 40 people collecting food daily.
- Said was convicted in 2025 and was sentenced on Wednesday; his lawyer had sought a 12-year sentence and disputed that Said was the scheme’s architect.
- The scheme exploited pandemic changes that let restaurants provide meals through a federal program normally serving children through schools.
- Aimee Bock, head of nonprofit Feeding Our Future, received a 42-year sentence and was ordered to repay $242 million.
- Minnesota state auditors found the education department received complaints about Feeding Our Future but often told the group to monitor itself.
- Governor Tim Walz announced in January that he would not seek re-election after repeated criticism from Trump over fraud in federally funded programs.
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