Minnesota food fraud: Restaurant owner receives 30-year sentence
Salim Said was sentenced for overstating meal counts during the pandemic, a scheme that cost the federal government $44 million.
By Chloe Edwards ·
A Minneapolis restaurant owner was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on Wednesday for his role in a massive fraud involving pandemic-era school meals.
Salim Said operated Safari Restaurant, which served Somali cuisine, and prosecutors stated he was responsible for $44 million in fraudulent claims. Court records indicate he claimed to distribute 6,000 meals daily, while FBI surveillance footage showed only 40 people collecting food at a time. The government alleged that the children listed on the reimbursement forms were fictitious.
Judge Nancy Brasel issued the sentence after Said denied the allegations at his 2025 trial. During sentencing, Said expressed remorse, marking a shift from his previous stance that many meals were delivered off site. His defense attorney, Barry Zone, argued for a 12-year term and disputed the prosecution's characterization of Said as the primary architect of the scheme.
The fraud exploited pandemic changes that allowed restaurants to participate in the federal program typically managed by schools. Prosecutors said Said submitted thousands of false reimbursement claims for 21 consecutive months. The government noted that Said used the funds to purchase a $1.2 million home, commercial real estate, and an $87,000 pickup truck.
This sentencing follows the conviction of Aimee Bock, the head of the Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future. Bock is serving a 42-year sentence for devising the overall plan to recruit participants like Said. State auditors reported that the Minnesota Department of Education received numerous complaints about the nonprofit but often advised the group to police itself.
The case has drawn national attention from President Donald Trump, who criticized Democratic Gov. Tim Walz for failing to stop the theft. Walz announced in January that he would not seek reelection, citing the pressure from the administration regarding federal cash programs. Dozens of individuals have been convicted in connection with the scheme.
Source: The Aegis
