Minnesota Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Role in $44 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

Salim Said, co-owner of the former Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on October 28, 2026, for his central role in defrauding a federal child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel handed down the sentence after Said's March 2025 conviction on 21 counts including wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering, emphasizing the damage to taxpayers and Minnesota's reputation.

Prosecutors described Said as an 'architect' or 'central organizer' of the scheme tied to the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which fraudulently claimed to serve millions of meals to children. Said's operation at Safari Restaurant and related sites was linked to over $44 million in losses, part of a broader scandal exceeding $250 million in fraudulent claims across more than 250 sites statewide. He personally pocketed millions, using proceeds for luxury vehicles, a $1.1 million home, and other expenditures, while actual meal distribution was minimal—FBI surveillance showed around 40 people daily at some sites despite claims of 6,000.

The case is one of the largest pandemic-era fraud prosecutions, with Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock previously sentenced to over 41 years. Federal authorities have charged dozens in connection with the scheme, highlighting vulnerabilities in emergency relief programs with reduced oversight.

Republican lawmakers and the House Oversight Committee have pointed to Said's past association with Rep. Ilhan Omar, noting her 2018 primary victory celebration at the restaurant and a promotional video she recorded there, while questioning the impact of the MEALS Act she sponsored, which expanded program access. No direct evidence of Omar's involvement in the fraud has been presented in court documents.