Aimee Bock, the founder of the Minnesota non-profit Feeding Our Future, has been sentenced to nearly 42 years in prison for orchestrating what prosecutors call the largest pandemic fraud scheme in the United States. The scheme exploited federal child nutrition programmes, defrauding them of $250m intended to feed children during Covid-19.
Prosecutors had sought a 50-year sentence, arguing Bock's crimes caused 'profound' damage. Bock was convicted last year of conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery. In court, she said: 'I understand I failed. I failed the public, my family, everyone.' Her lawyer, Kenneth Udoibok, argued for a shorter sentence, describing her actions as 'gross negligence'.
The fraud network involved phoney distribution sites, kickbacks and fake lists of children. Dozens of people, many from Minnesota's Somali community, have been convicted in related cases. The scandal became a flashpoint in Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, leading to violent protests and the deaths of two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during ICE operations.
Separately, this week authorities filed additional charges in a wider investigation into federal social service spending. Fahima Mahamud, CEO of Future Leaders Early Learning Center, is accused of fraudulently receiving $4.6m. Two others face charges over $975,000 in Medicaid subsidies, and two more are accused of billing $21.1m for unnecessary autism therapy.
