Fraud in Minnesota

MPR News
What's the deal with fraud in Minnesota? The Feeding Our Future scandal, explained.

Fraud in Minnesota has become a flashpoint for incendiary comments about Somali-Americans by President Donald Trump, as well as a sticking point in the 2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election. It's also resulted in a fair bit of misinformation and disinformation in the news.

Cooperator, FBI agent, tell of ‘pay to play’ kickback scheme at Feeding Our Future
Qamar Hassan, who pleaded guilty in 2023, testified that she and other operators of purported meal distribution sites gave “donations” to Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock in exchange for their continued participation in the fraud.
Feeding Our Future jury bribe courier charged with DWI after crash
The Minnesota State Patrol says Ladan Ali had a blood alcohol concentration of .284, or more than 3 1/2 times the legal limit, when she rear-ended another driver in Mendota Heights on Feb. 14. Ali is awaiting sentencing for trying to bribe a juror in the first Feeding Our Future trial.
Feeding Our Future by the numbers: 4.4M documents, 90M meal claims and 1,200 subpoenas
FBI agent Jared Kary testified that the search of the nonprofit’s headquarters, Aimee Bock’s home, and 25 other Twin Cities locations in January 2022 was the single largest law enforcement operation in Minnesota history and required the help of federal agents from around the country.
‘I serve drinks’ testifies bartender falsely named as Feeding Our Future board president
A Twin Cities man once listed as Feeding Our Future’s board president testified in federal court on Tuesday that he had no knowledge of the organization and was surprised to see his name on its organizational chart.
Prosecutor calls Feeding Our Future ‘money making engine’ of fraud as trial of founder opens
Federal prosecutors allege that Aimee Bock was the ringleader of a $250 million scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs during the pandemic and that Said’s restaurant siphoned $16 million of that.
Judge sentences Feeding Our Future defendant to 3 1/2 years, citing ‘flagrant fraud’
Sharon Ross of Big Lake pleaded guilty in early 2024 to stealing $2.4 million from taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs as part of what federal prosecutors in Minnesota say was a $250 million scam involving 70 people and “the single largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the country.”
Trial starts for alleged ringleader of massive COVID food fraud
A federal jury was selected Monday in the second criminal trial to stem from a lengthy federal investigation into Feeding Our Future. The judge put security measures in place after an alleged attempted bribe of jurors in the first trial in the case.