Minnesota Food Fraud: Restaurant Owner Sentenced to 30 Years

Federal authorities in Minnesota have concluded their prosecution of a major food assistance fraud with a 30-year prison sentence for one of the scheme's key figures.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel handed the sentence to Salim Said on Wednesday in Minneapolis. The verdict marks the latest legal consequence of a sprawling operation that collected millions in federal funds during the pandemic by claiming to serve needy children who did not exist. Said operated Safari Restaurant, a Minneapolis establishment known for Somali cuisine. Prosecutors alleged that he vastly overstated the number of meals served when seeking payment, attributing $44 million in fraud to him, including portions committed by individuals he recruited.

Court filings detail the discrepancy between Said's claims and the physical evidence. He reported a daily distribution of 6,000 meals, yet FBI surveillance cameras recorded only about 40 people collecting food per day. Prosecutors described the operation as a calculated lie, noting that the listed children were entirely fictitious. The scheme exploited pandemic-era changes to the federal program, which allowed restaurants to distribute food outside of schools. Said exploited these rules for 21 consecutive months.

The government noted that the illicit funds allowed Said to purchase a $1.2 million home, commercial real estate, and an $87,000 pickup truck. At his 2025 trial, Said denied the allegations. He described his restaurant as a central gathering spot for Somali immigrants in an area known as Little Mogadishu and argued that many meals were delivered directly. He told the jury that good food naturally draws customers.

Said was convicted alongside Aimee Bock, the leader of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future. Bock is serving a 42-year sentence for devising the overall plan to recruit participants into the program. Dozens of others have also been convicted in the related Minnesota fraud cases. State auditors found that the Minnesota Department of Education received numerous complaints about Feeding Our Future but often told the group to regulate itself.

The fraud has drawn national attention, including from President Donald Trump, who criticized Minnesota’s Democratic governor for failing to stop the theft. Trump also cited the case as a reason for an immigration crackdown in the state’s largest cities. In January, Governor Tim Walz announced he would not run for reelection, citing sustained criticism over the federal funding mishandling. Said’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment following the sentencing.

A sentencing memo filed by his lawyer, Samuel Savage, was not available to the public before the hearing.