Minneapolis restaurant owner receives 30 years for pandemic food program fraud

A Minneapolis restaurant owner was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on Wednesday for his role in a major food fraud scheme, according to the New York Post and Al Jazeera. Salim Said, a 37-year-old who operated Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, was sentenced by US District Judge Nancy Brasel. The New York Post and Al Jazeera both report that the sentence stems from a scheme to collect millions of dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic by claiming to feed needy children. [1][2][4]

The government stated that Said was responsible for 44 million dollars in fraud, part of which was carried out by individuals he recruited, the New York Post reported. Judge Brasel told Said during sentencing that he took taxpayer dollars to enrich himself and damaged the reputation of the state, according to Al Jazeera. The restaurant he operated specialized in Somali dishes, the New York Post noted. [1][2]

Feeding Our Future was a Minnesota non-profit created in 2016 that claimed to distribute thousands of meals to schoolchildren during the pandemic, but instead stole hundreds of millions of dollars while providing few or no meals. The United States Department of Justice previously called it the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme in the country. The scandal involved over 70 defendants charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery, with its organizer receiving nearly 42 years in prison in May 2026. [7][10]

The widespread fraud in Minnesota led to dozens of convictions and drew public criticism from President Donald Trump, the New York Post and Al Jazeera both report. Trump criticized the Democratic governor of Minnesota for failing to stop the scheme and cited the case to justify an immigration crackdown in major cities across the state, according to the New York Post. [1][2]