Salim Said gets 30 years in Minnesota food fraud case

Minnesota food fraud cases have become a national focal point, with President Donald Trump frequently criticizing Democratic leaders for their handling of the crisis. On Wednesday, a federal judge delivered the latest major verdict in that ongoing legal battle.

Judge Nancy Brasel of the U.S. District Court sentenced Salim Said to 30 years in prison. Said, a native of Somalia, ran Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis. The government alleged he oversaw a $44 million fraud scheme that exploited a federal food program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prosecutors argued that Said vastly overstated his meal counts to secure payments. A court filing noted that he claimed to distribute 6,000 meals daily. FBI cameras, however, recorded only about 40 people collecting food each day. "The defendant and his sites did not serve thousands of children; he served a calculated, lucrative lie," prosecutors stated.

During his 2025 trial, Said denied the allegations. He testified that many meals were delivered off site. At Wednesday's sentencing, he expressed remorse and changed his stance. His defense attorney, Barry Zone, had requested a 12 year sentence. Zone disputed the government's claim that Said was the primary architect of the fraud.

Judge Brasel cited the financial gains Said accumulated during the scheme. The government reported that he purchased a $1.2 million home, commercial real estate, and an $87,000 pickup truck. "You took more than taxpayers’ dollars to enrich yourself. You took the reputation of our state down with you," the judge told him.

The fraud relied on pandemic-era changes to the federal program. Restaurants were allowed to participate, and food distribution extended beyond schools. Prosecutors said Said submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims for 21 consecutive months. The claims listed fictitious children as recipients of the purportedly provided meals.

Said was convicted in 2025 alongside Aimee Bock, the head of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future. Bock received a 42 year sentence for designing the overall plan to recruit participants. State auditors found that the Minnesota Department of Education received numerous complaints about the group but often allowed it to police itself. Governor Tim Walz announced in January that he would not seek reelection after facing intense scrutiny over the state's food programs.