Salim Said receives 30-year sentence for Minnesota food fraud

A federal judge in Minneapolis sentenced Salim Said to 30 years in prison on Wednesday for his role in a massive fraud of the federal food program. The punishment follows a sprawling scheme that collected millions of dollars during the pandemic by claiming to feed children who did not exist. Said operated a Somali restaurant in Minneapolis that prosecutors said used the crisis to inflate meal counts significantly.

The government attributed $44 million in fraud to Said, noting that he recruited others to help execute the plan. Court filings revealed a stark discrepancy between claims and reality. Said claimed a daily distribution of 6,000 meals, yet FBI cameras captured only about 40 people collecting food per day. Prosecutors described the operation as a calculated lie rather than a genuine effort to serve thousands of needy children.

The pandemic altered how the federal program functioned, allowing restaurants to participate and extending distribution beyond schools. Said exploited these temporary rules for 21 consecutive months. Each payment request listed children who were entirely fictitious. The scheme generated enough cash for Said to purchase a $1.2 million home, commercial real estate, and an $87,000 pickup truck.

Said, a native of Somalia, testified at his 2025 trial that he denied the allegations. He characterized his restaurant as a gathering place for Somali immigrants in the area known as Little Mogadishu. He argued that many meals were delivered and told the jury that people come to restaurants that make good food. U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel imposed the sentence after the verdict.

Said was convicted alongside Aimee Bock, the leader of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future. Bock is serving a 42-year prison sentence for devising the overall plan to recruit partners into the program. Dozens of individuals have been convicted in the Minnesota fraud cases, which have drawn national attention. President Donald Trump has used the scandal to criticize the state's Democratic leadership and justify an immigration crackdown in the state's largest cities.

State auditors found that the Minnesota Department of Education received numerous complaints about Feeding Our Future but often told the group to self-regulate. In January, Governor Tim Walz announced he would not run for reelection. He cited sustained criticism from Trump over theft in programs that rely on federal funding. Said's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment following the sentencing.