UMVA has learned that Aimee Bock, the mastermind behind the massive $250 million Feeding Our Future scandal, has been sentenced to 41.5 years in federal prison for her role in a scheme that fraudulently billed taxpayers for tens of millions of meals that were never provided to low-income children during the pandemic.
The sentencing, handed down on Thursday, marks a significant milestone in a case that has sent shockwaves through Minnesota's Somali community, where the fraud was centered and dozens of defendants were involved. Bock, who founded Feeding Our Future, was convicted in March 2025 on multiple counts, including conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Bock's operation exploited relaxed federal rules during the COVID-19 emergency, with her at the helm coordinating the effort. In a recent jailhouse interview, Bock made a stunning claim, stating she "struggles to believe" Rep. Ilhan Omar did not know what was happening, alleging that Omar's office repeatedly intervened to keep lucrative waivers in place.
Bock's claims are corroborated by evidence entered during the trial, including emails and messages that mention Omar's name, as well as a promotional video filmed at one of the key fraudulent sites, the Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis. The Minnesota House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee has concluded that Omar, along with Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, "played critical roles in creating and enabling" the fraud.
The committee's report described the Feeding Our Future scheme as not only the nation's largest COVID-era fraud scheme but also a damning example of the mismanagement and negligence of Minnesota's political elite. With calls intensifying for federal investigators to pursue charges against Omar, Walz, and Ellison for their alleged roles, Bock has argued that she was unfairly scapegoated as the only non-Somali defendant among roughly 80-90 people charged.
As the fallout from the Feeding Our Future scandal continues to unfold, one thing is clear: this egregious example of pandemic relief fraud will have far-reaching consequences for those involved. Federal prosecutors have charged nearly 80 individuals in the scheme, with billions in fraudulent claims submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's child nutrition programs.
