Feeding Our Future Scheme Leader Sentenced to 28 Years in Largest COVID-19 Relief Fraud Case

January 15, 2025 — Aimee Bock, founder and executive director of the now-defunct nonprofit Feeding Our Future, was convicted on all counts in what federal prosecutors call the largest COVID-19 relief fraud scheme in the United States—a $250 million operation that exploited federal child nutrition programs during the pandemic and involved over 70 defendants across Minnesota.

Bock's conviction follows a six-week trial in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, where a jury found her guilty of conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery. The scheme involved submitting fraudulent claims for meals purportedly served to children in need, with funds diverted to personal luxuries including cars, vacations, and real estate purchases.

The Scheme's Mechanics

Between March 2020 and January 2022, Feeding Our Future opened over 250 sites across Minnesota, falsely claiming to have served 125 million meals to children. The nonprofit submitted fraudulent meal count sheets and attendance rosters to the Minnesota Department of Education, which administered the Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Many sites claimed to serve thousands of meals daily despite lacking the kitchen capacity, staff, or facilities to prepare and distribute food at that scale.

Investigators found that some sites existed only on paper, while others submitted meal counts that exceeded their physical capacity by orders of magnitude. One site claimed to serve 5,000 meals per day from a location that could accommodate fewer than 50 people.

The fraud extended beyond meal counts. Defendants created fake attendance rosters with children's names copied from school directories, submitted invoices for food that was never purchased, and used shell companies to launder funds. Some defendants used the stolen money to purchase luxury vehicles, real estate in Minnesota and out of state, and to fund personal vacations.

Key Convictions and Sentences

As of January 2025, 57 individuals have been convicted in connection with the scheme. The most severe sentence came in August 2025, when Abdiaziz Shafii Farah was sentenced to 28 years in prison and ordered to pay $47,920,514 in restitution. Farah, identified as a leader in the fraud, operated more than 30 sites that falsely claimed to have served 18 million meals.

In November 2025, Abdimajid Mohamed Nur received a 10-year prison sentence for his role. Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, CEO of Afrique Hospitality Group, was sentenced to 17 years in prison in January 2025 for exploiting the program by submitting fraudulent claims and laundering millions intended for feeding children.

Bock, who was held without bail pending sentencing after her conviction, faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel has not yet set a sentencing date, but prosecutors are expected to seek a sentence comparable to Farah's given Bock's role as the scheme's organizer.

Tax Evasion Components

While the primary charges focused on wire fraud and bribery, the scheme had significant tax evasion components. Many defendants failed to report kickbacks and diverted funds as income on their tax returns. The IRS Criminal Investigation division has been involved in the prosecutions, and additional tax charges may be filed as the investigation continues.

The unreported income from the fraud scheme created a secondary layer of tax liability for defendants. For example, Farah's $47.9 million restitution order includes amounts that should have been reported as taxable income, creating potential additional tax penalties and interest.

The "Following the Money" Investigation

The case demonstrates how financial forensics can expose massive fraud networks. Investigators traced wire transfers, bank deposits, and real estate purchases to connect defendants across the scheme. The investigation involved the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Minnesota Department of Education.

The scale of the fraud—$250 million diverted from programs intended to feed children during a pandemic—has prompted increased scrutiny of nonprofit organizations involved in federal programs. The Minnesota Department of Education has implemented stricter oversight measures, and federal agencies have increased audits of child nutrition program participants.

Controversy and Impact

The case has sparked controversy for exploiting vulnerable children and misusing pandemic relief funds at a time when food insecurity was at historic highs. Critics argue that the fraud diverted resources from legitimate programs that could have fed thousands of children.

The scheme has also raised questions about oversight of federal nutrition programs, particularly during the pandemic when emergency waivers relaxed some reporting requirements. The USDA, which administers the Federal Child Nutrition Program, has since tightened eligibility requirements and increased monitoring.

For the 70+ individuals charged, the consequences are severe: prison sentences ranging from several years to 28 years, restitution orders totaling tens of millions of dollars, and potential additional tax liabilities. The case shows how "following the money" can expose extensive fraud networks, but also highlights the human cost when relief programs are exploited at scale.