Salim Said, 37, operator of the Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, was sentenced on Wednesday to 30 years in prison for his role in a COVID-19 food programme fraud; the government said he was responsible for $44 million. The case has drawn intense national scrutiny and political pressure from President Donald Trump.
US District Judge Nancy Brasel told Said he had taken "more than taxpayers' dollars to enrich yourself" and had taken "the reputation of our state down" with him. The government said some of the fraud was committed by others Said recruited. Prosecutors said in a court filing that Said was claiming a "ridiculous daily distribution of 6,000 meals" while FBI cameras showed 40 people a day collecting food. "The defendant and his sites did not serve thousands of children; he served a calculated, lucrative lie," they said.
During the pandemic, changes to a federal programme that typically fed children through schools meant restaurants could participate, and food distribution was extended to places outside schools. The wider Minnesota scheme resulted in dozens of convictions.
Said, who was born in Somalia, denied the allegations at his 2025 trial, saying many meals were delivered off site, but expressed remorse at sentencing. His lawyer, Barry Zone, asked for a 12-year sentence and disputed the government's claim that Said was the "architect" of the fraud.
Prosecutors said Said made thousands of fraudulent reimbursement claims over 21 consecutive months. "Each submission represented meals purportedly provided to underprivileged children, yet the listed children themselves were entirely fictitious," they said. The government said he used the stolen funds to buy a $1.2 million home, commercial real estate and an $87,000 pickup truck.
Said was convicted in 2025 alongside Aimee Bock, leader of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, who is serving 42 years for devising the scheme and was ordered to repay $242 million. State auditors found that Minnesota's education department received numerous complaints about Feeding Our Future but often told the group to police itself.
Trump ridiculed Democratic Governor Tim Walz for failing to stop the scheme and cited it as grounds for an immigration crackdown in Minnesota's largest cities. Following relentless criticism from Trump over theft in federally funded programmes, Walz announced in January that he would not run for re-election.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case shows how pandemic changes to a federal child nutrition programme were exploited, with prosecutors alleging $44 million in fraudulent claims and courts handing down multi-decade sentences.
- The fraud became a political weapon for President Donald Trump, who used it to attack a Democratic governor and to push for immigration enforcement in Minnesota's Somali communities.
- The fallout reached the top of Minnesota politics: Governor Tim Walz announced in January he would not seek re-election after relentless criticism from Trump.
Background
The scheme centred on Feeding Our Future, a Minnesota nonprofit. During the pandemic, the federal programme that normally fed children through schools let restaurants participate and serve meals outside school grounds. Prosecutors said that created openings for fraudulent claims, and the resulting investigation produced dozens of convictions. State auditors found that Minnesota's education department received numerous complaints about Feeding Our Future but often told the group to police itself.
Key Perspectives
Prosecutors: said Said was responsible for $44 million in fraud, some committed by others he recruited, and called his operation "a calculated, lucrative lie."
Judge Nancy Brasel: told Said he took taxpayers' money and took the reputation of the state down with him.
Defence lawyer Barry Zone: disputed that Said was the "architect" of the fraud and asked for a 12-year sentence.
Salim Said: denied the allegations at trial, saying many meals were delivered off site, but expressed remorse at sentencing.
President Donald Trump: repeatedly attacked Walz over the scheme and cited it as grounds for an immigration crackdown in Minnesota's largest cities.
What to Watch
- Whether Trump's immigration crackdown in Minnesota's largest cities moves forward, after he cited the fraud scheme as grounds for it.
- Further sentencings in the scheme, which has already produced dozens of convictions, including Aimee Bock's 42-year term.
- How the political fallout evolves in Minnesota after Walz said he would not run for re-election.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedSalim Said was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “A 37-year-old man who played a key role in defrauding a United States food programme in the state of Minnesota during the COVID-19 pandemic has been sentenced to 30 years in prison”
- SupportedThe government said Said was responsible for $44 million in fraud.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The government said he was responsible for $44 million in fraud, some of which was committed by others he recruited.”
- SupportedTrump cited the fraud case as grounds for an immigration crackdown.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “cited it as grounds for an immigration crackdown in the state’s largest cities.”
- SupportedJudge Nancy Brasel told Said, “You took more than taxpayers’ dollars to enrich yourself. You took the reputation of our state down with you.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““You took more than taxpayers’ dollars to enrich yourself. You took the reputation of our state down with you,” US District Judge Nancy Brasel said.”
- SupportedProsecutors said Said claimed a daily distribution of 6,000 meals, while FBI cameras showed 40 people a day collecting food.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Said was claiming a “ridiculous daily distribution of 6,000 meals” while FBI cameras showed 40 people a day collecting food, prosecutors said in a court filing.”
- SupportedProsecutors said, “The defendant and his sites did not serve thousands of children; he served a calculated, lucrative lie.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““The defendant and his sites did not serve thousands of children; he served a calculated, lucrative lie,” prosecutors said.”
- SupportedSaid denied the allegations at his 2025 trial and said many meals were delivered off site.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Said, who was born in Somalia, denied the allegations while testifying at his 2025 trial, saying many meals were delivered off site.”
- SupportedSaid expressed remorse at sentencing.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “But he changed course and expressed remorse at his sentencing on Wednesday.”
- SupportedSaid’s lawyer Barry Zone asked for a 12-year prison sentence.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Defence lawyer Barry Zone, who had asked for a 12-year prison sentence, disputed the government’s claim that Said was the “architect”.”
- SupportedProsecutors said Said made thousands of fraudulent reimbursement claims over 21 consecutive months.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““For 21 consecutive months, Said made thousands of fraudulent reimbursement claims,” prosecutors said.”
- SupportedThe government said Said used stolen funds to buy a $1.2 million home, commercial real estate and an $87,000 pickup truck.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The government said Said hit the jackpot, using the stolen funds to buy a $1.2 million home, commercial real estate and an $87,000 pickup truck.”
- SupportedAimee Bock is serving a 42-year sentence for devising the scheme.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Said was convicted in 2025 alongside Aimee Bock, leader of the Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future, who is serving a 42-year prison sentence for devising the scheme and was ordered to repay $242 million.”