White Woman at Center of $250M Minnesota Food Fraud Scheme Claims She Was Scapegoat
A massive COVID-era fraud scheme targeting federal food programs in Minnesota has ensnared dozens, but the alleged mastermind is not who many initially believed. While the Trump administration pointed to fraud within the Somali American community to justify increased immigration enforcement, prosecutors say the central figure is 45-year-old Aimee Bock, a White woman who ran the nonprofit Feeding Our Future.
In an exclusive interview from jail, Bock expressed regret over the situation but maintained her innocence, suggesting state officials share responsibility for the alleged $250 million fraud. “I wish I could go back and do things differently, stop things, catch things,” Bock told CBS News, stating she believed her organization was acting in good faith to protect the program designed to feed hungry children.
To date, 78 individuals connected to Feeding Our Future have been charged, with over 60 pleading guilty or being convicted at trial. Notably, all but Aimee Bock are Somali American.
During a five-week trial last year, prosecutors alleged Bock approved reimbursement claims for millions of meals that were never served and accepted bribes. She and other operators allegedly used the stolen funds for luxury cars, real estate, and vacations. Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick stated at the time, “That money did not go to feed kids. It was used to fund their lavish lifestyle.” A jury convicted Bock on all counts, and she now faces up to 33 years in prison. Evidence presented included text messages where Bock reportedly compared Feeding Our Future to the mob.
“The jury saw overwhelming evidence of what Bock knew,” lead prosecutor Joe Thompson said following the verdict. “She was at the head of the scheme from Day One. She signed every single fraudulent claim that was submitted to the state of Minnesota.” Bock vehemently denies being the “mastermind” or a “mob boss.”
“It was heartbreaking,” Bock said, describing her reaction to the verdict. “I believe in accountability. If I had done this, I would’ve pled guilty. I wouldn’t have gone to trial. I wouldn’t have put my children and my family through what we’ve been through. I’ve lost everything.” Last month, a judge ordered her to forfeit over $5 million in proceeds from the scheme.
Bock claims the bulk of the seized funds were held in a bank account for the nonprofit and insists she did not personally live a lavish lifestyle. She downplayed the items found during an FBI raid on her home in 2022, describing them as “minimal jewelry” – “like two pairs of earrings, a bracelet, a watch” – and “some cash.” Her attorney, Kenneth Udoibok, shared video footage showing food at meal sites operated by Feeding Our Future contractors, arguing Bock actively worked to root out fraud, terminating agreements with entities she suspected of cheating the system. “I was the only one that stopped a claim and said, this is fraudulent,” Bock asserted. “There are tens of millions of dollars in claims that we did not pay, that we refused.”
The rapid growth of Feeding Our Future is a key point of contention. The organization submitted $3.4 million in meal claims in 2019, skyrocketing to nearly $200 million in 2021. Bock attributes this increase to relaxed pandemic guidelines allowing parents to pick up meals for their children. When asked if the surge in volume raised red flags, Bock claimed she had sign-off from Minnesota officials.
“We relied on the state,” Bock stated, adding that Rep. Ilhan Omar frequently visited the meal sites. “We told the state, this site is going to operate at this address, this time, and this number of children. The state would then tell us that’s approved.” Omar has denied any knowledge of individuals defrauding the program and has previously condemned the misuse of funds. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has faced scrutiny for his administration’s handling of the fraud, but defended his response, accusing the Trump administration of “politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans.”
Udoibok argues state officials were not particularly concerned with stopping the fraud because the nonprofit was providing a vital service to a vulnerable population during a time of instability. “What is a lie is that they were policing this fraudulent activity at any time,” he said. “They wanted a scapegoat. She ran the only food program in the state, so they pinned it on her.” A spokesperson for Walz did not respond to a request for comment.
The case unfolded against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Minneapolis following the killing of Renee Good and a surge in ICE activity. According to Bock, some individuals detained in ICE sweeps are now being held in the same jail where she awaits sentencing. The origins of these tensions, Bock suggests, can be traced back to her nonprofit and the subsequent fallout.
Before the fraud became a rallying point for conservatives, federal prosecutors had already focused on Bock. A lifelong Minnesotan with a background in early childhood education, Bock founded Feeding Our Future in 2016 with the goal of reaching children experiencing food insecurity. “Our goal as an organization was to reach the kids that were not being fed,” Bock explained. “There is kind of this quiet need in Minnesota, these food deserts, where there’s just not access to healthy nutritionist food for children.”
The nonprofit became a sponsor for federal nutrition programs overseen by the Minnesota Education Department. The COVID-19 pandemic brought increased flexibility, allowing for easier food distribution. Restaurants and caterers, many from the Somali immigrant community, were eager to participate. Bock said her organization was well-positioned to meet the need, but state education officials initially hesitated to approve some applicants.
“The Department of Education was sitting on the applications,” Bock said. “They were just not processing them.” In response to what she perceived as discriminatory scrutiny of Somali applicants, Bock filed a lawsuit alleging the state was depriving low-income and minority children of access to essential food programs.
Bock acknowledged that state officials likely feared being labeled racist. That advocacy earned her praise within the Somali community, with one leader reportedly calling her “a modern-day Robin Hood.” The lawsuit resulted in a settlement requiring the Minnesota Education Department to process applications “reasonably promptly.”
“The notion that a state government is paralyzed and has to allow this level of fraud because they were afraid of what I might do in a lawsuit is preposterous,” Bock countered. However, state education officials later told a watchdog group that the threat of legal action and negative publicity intimidated them into easing restrictions. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) maintains it acted responsibly and even referred Bock to the FBI in 2021. “Criminals took advantage of the program even though MDE met or exceeded federal regulations,” the education commissioner wrote in a letter to the state watchdog.
The case highlights a complex web of alleged fraud, political pressures, and accusations of scapegoating, leaving a lasting impact on Minnesota’s social and political landscape.
