30-year sentence in Minnesota fraud that drew Trump backlash

What the report says

A Minnesota man linked to one of the largest COVID-19-era food aid fraud cases in the United States has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, according to Al Jazeera. Salim Said, 37, was convicted for his role in a scheme involving a nonprofit food programme that was supposed to feed needy children during the pandemic. Prosecutors said he helped submit false reimbursement claims while operating Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, inflating the number of meals supposedly served and recruiting others into the fraud.

Al Jazeera reported that prosecutors said the scheme led to about $44 million in losses tied to Said, and that he used stolen money to buy property and vehicles. Judge Nancy Brasel said in court that he had taken taxpayer money for personal gain and damaged Minnesota’s reputation. Said had denied the allegations at trial but later expressed remorse at sentencing. His lawyer had sought a much shorter prison term.

The case is part of the broader Feeding Our Future fraud investigation, which has produced dozens of convictions and drawn national attention. The article noted that President Donald Trump has repeatedly used the scandal to criticize Minnesota leaders and to support tougher immigration rhetoric in the state. Al Jazeera also said former Feeding Our Future leader Aimee Bock previously received a 42-year sentence. More broadly, the case has raised questions about oversight of emergency food aid programs expanded during COVID-19.