FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul alleges: Minnesota fraud: Inside Salim Said's Feeding our Future sentencing hearing

FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul covers the federal sentencing hearing of Salim Said, allegedly a central figure in the Feeding our Future scheme. Said was convicted alongside Amy Bock, the founder of Feeding our Future, an organization that allegedly sponsored meal sites to deliver meals to children during COVID-19 distance learning. According to FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, the government characterized Said as the number two person in the organization. Both were convicted last year; Bock was previously sentenced to 41 years in prison, while Said received 30 years and was ordered to pay more than $44 million in restitution.

During the sentencing hearing, FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reports that Said’s defense attorney attempted to distance his client from Bock, arguing that Bock was the one in charge of writing checks, not Said. The defense also presented Said’s personal background, noting that he fled Somalia and experienced significant hardship during his early life. According to FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, the defense attorney made an emotional appeal to the judge, emphasizing that sentencing should account for the whole person.

Said himself spoke briefly to the court, offering what FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul describes as four sentences expressing remorse. According to the video, Said stated he was deeply sorry for his involvement and claimed the court would never see him on the wrong side of the law again. The defense also noted that family members submitted letters of support to the court.

According to FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, the government argued that the massive fraud scheme deteriorated public trust in government and that the sentencing served a broader purpose of sending a message. The judge acknowledged this concern when announcing the sentence. FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reports that the government requested 40 years while the defense requested 12 years; the judge ultimately imposed 30 years plus restitution.

The government alleged, according to FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, that while Said did not personally participate in every dollar stolen, he was one of the central players and profited the most from Bock’s scheme. FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reports that Said allegedly ran meal sites and helped enroll other sites into the program.

In FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul’s Own Words

“It is my hope that one day the words Minnesota and fraud will not be spoken in the same sentence.”

“I’m deeply sorry for my involvement in this very serious case. I know better. You will never see me again on the wrong side of the law.”

“The government said that while Mr. Saeed did not personally participate in every dollar that was stolen, he was one of the central players and that he profited the most off of Amy Bock’s scheme.”

This case reflects the broader Feeding our Future investigation, which FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul characterizes as one of the largest pandemic fraud schemes in American history. The sentencing underscores concerns about fraud’s damage to public confidence in government institutions.