Bock did not have to pay any money for bail, court documents show, but she must submit to supervision by the U.S. Our winter sustainer campaign is happening now! MDE not only violated federal regulations, it also violated (a previous) court order Even after being found in contempt of court, the MDE is continuing to take the position that it is above the law and the children in Minnesota do not deserve access to nutritious meals and snacks.. This is a scheme that begins with Aimee Bock and Feeding Our Future, said Andrew Luger, the U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, at a press conference announcing the charges against 47 suspects. Aimee Bock was the founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit organization that was a sponsor participating in the Federal Child Nutrition Program. Timeline: How feeding underprivileged children turned into a sweeping federal investigation. He attached a roster with the names of the children. Do you have a news tip or story idea to share with us? Salim Ahmed Said, 33, of Plymouth, owner and operator of Safari Restaurant. He has been a journalist for 15 years. Help us keep them free to read for everyone. These programs include Family Child Care Homes, Child Care Centers, Emergency Shelters, Afterschool Programs, and Adult Daycare Programs. Please reload the page and try again. Aimee Bock, executive director of the now-defunct Feeding Our Future, allegedly recruited dozens of individuals to open more than 200 food sites. Aimee Bock blames a feud with the Minnesota Department of Education for a federal probe into alleged misuse of food aid. Those meals were served in the months immediately following the pandemic. Feeding Our Future went from receiving and disbursing approximately $3.4 million in federal funds in 2019 to nearly $200 million in 2021, according to DOJ. CACFP reimburses adult daycare and childcare centers at free, reduced-price, or paid rates for eligible meals and snacks served to eligible, targeting benefits to those children and seniors most in need. Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh returns campaign contributions from donors tied to alleged Feeding Our Future fraud investigation. Subscribe to our free newsletter! For serving as a sponsor to Stigma-Free Willmar, Feeding Our Future received nearly $500,000 in administrative fees. 2023 A nonprofit newsroom dedicated to reporting on Minnesotas immigrant and refugee communities.. Editors note: Why Sahan Journal is reporting on alleged fraud in the federal meals program.. Whoops! It has been nearly two weeks since federal agents raided Aimee Bocks house, the nonprofit she runs, and several companies associated with it. Mohamud ran the Stigma-Free Willmar site. Overall, federal prosecutors allege individuals stole more than $250 millionthe largest COVID pandemic fraud in the country. He predicted that Bock and Feeding Our Future will ultimately not be charged or indicted. Try our monthly plan today. When MDE denied Feeding Our Future site applications, Bock and Feeding Our Future filed a lawsuit accusing MDE of denying the site applications due to discrimination in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act., In total, the government says, Feeding Our Future opened more than 250 sites throughout the state of Minnesota and fraudulently obtained and disbursed more than $240 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Udoibok: Stolen, thats another objection. Investigators allege that in a little over 20 months, these operations fraudulently reported providing more than 125 nonexistent million meals to children. But the Board approved it. No paywalls. Bock said that in 2021, Feeding Our Future completely denied 10 to 15 applications from nonprofits and partially denied countless others. They were down to a couple of gas stations. All of that had to be built up from the ground. And my conclusion is, the reason why they didnt care about the impact of that decision, is because the centers are run by immigrants and the beneficiaries of the food are also immigrants and poor people. First published on September 23, 2022 / 11:36 AM. Her entry for Feeding Our Future says: We utilize the Child and Adult Care Food Program to increase healthy food access for Minnesotas youth and seniors. When MDE employees pressed Bock for clarification, Bock accused MDE of discrimination and unfairly scrutinizing Feeding Our Futures sites. Anytime theres a conflict of interest, the people involved in the conflict are removed from the decision. Aimee Bock was the founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit organization that was a sponsor participating in the Federal Child Nutrition Program. FEEDING OUR FUTURE is an approved sponsor that makes CACFP participation easy. No charges have been filed against Bock, Feeding our Future, or anyone else named in the search warrants. They feed the children. Sponsors must submit an application to MDE for each site. Subscribe to, Feeding Our Future fraud investigation puts nonprofits under Minnesota lawmakers' microscope | FOX 9, An attorney for the Minnesota Department of Education said Wednesday that a federal investigation is ongoing into what he called "one of the largest fraud occurrences in state history" at a meals program and hinted about grand jury involvement. MINNEAPOLIS -- The founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future was released from custody earlier this week after she surrendered her passport and agreed not to travel outside of. Instead, federal money was spent by conspirators to buy six pieces of real estate, including a $500,000 property in Kenya. Bock. The 47 defendants are charged across six separate indictments and three criminal informations with charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and bribery, the release says. Joey Peters is a reporter for Sahan Journal. 2020by FEEDING OUR FUTURE.This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 39, of Burnsville, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Bock was one of 47 defendants accused in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, DOJ says. In total . We actually got additional services beyond the scope of what was contracted, but that money was spent legally within the realms of the program. It started immediately after we signed our lease, which I believe was in 2019 or 2020. Please enter valid email address to continue. But Ms. Bock did the opposite . Her LinkedIn page says Bock has worked as a teacher and for a variety of other nonprofit organizations. Bock went on to work for an education trade group called Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children, where she helped child care organizations manage accreditation. I can tell you with 100% confidence, all of that money was spent in accordance with the regulations surrounding child nutrition programs. An indictment is not an indication of guilt or innocence. The following people are named in the indictment United States v. Haji Osman Salad, et al. Send us an email at contact@sahanjournal.com. Bock says whatever the for-profit food distributors do with their profit margins is outside of her authority. Im not sure how they would determine that the money came from the child nutrition program, because by the time food distributors get the money, its their general fund money. / CBS Minnesota. Bock, 41, has staunchly defended herself and her organization in previous interviews with Sahan Journal. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sometimes that means reporting on allegations that some people would rather keep out of the public view. Between 2018 and 2021, Feeding Our Future accessed $244 million from two U.S. Department of Agriculture programs: the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program. Then, Feeding Our Future reviews these records and decides whether they meet federal guidelines. Be as detailed as possible. We are in charge of monitoring our nonprofit partners. Bock paid the money to Handy Helpers, a company run by her boyfriend, which she said did extensive and ongoing remodeling on roughly 10,000 square feet of office space in Feeding Our Futures St. Anthony headquarters. Bock's attorney, Kenneth Udoibok, said he wouldn't comment until he's had a chance to see the indictment, but that the indictment "doesn't indicate guilt or innocence.". Feeding Our Future's founder and executive director, Aimee Bock, was among those indicted, and authorities say she and others in her organization submitted the fraudulent claims for. Here's a list of the people charged in connection to the Feeding Our Future fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office: The following people are named in the indictment United States v. Aimee Marie Bock, et al. The alleged fraud was simple at its foundation: Some organizations along the chain allegedly reported serving more meals than they actually served in order to receive more federal money. If youre buying doughnuts, that doesnt count. Bock: Absolutely, and they are approved by the state. Parents were out of work. Instead, they prioritized their own greed, stealing more than a quarter of a billion dollars in federal funds to purchase luxury cars, houses, jewelry and coastal resort property abroad. Abdirahman Mohamud Ahmed, 54, of Columbus, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. We had no convenience stores. : Forty-eight people have now been charged in connection to the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme. Abdirahman Ahmed was an owner and operator of Safari Restaurant, a site that received more than $16 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Bock: I dont know what he spent it on when he was there. Abdikadir Ainanshe Mohamud, 30, of Fridley, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Authorities say Bock and others in her organization submitted the fraudulent claims for reimbursement and received kickbacks. I started Sahan Journal to provide committed coverage to immigrants and people of color in Minnesota. Abdihakim Ali Ahmed, 36, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. When the Minnesota Department of Education started asking questions about the claims, Bock and Feeding Our Future gave false assurances that they were monitoring the sites under its sponsorship and that the sites were serving the meals as claimed, the news release says. This is to ensure that nonprofits are serving the right food to qualify for the federal money. Eligible nonprofit organizations partner with the Minnesota Department of Education to sponsor unaffiliated sites participation inthe CACFP. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. The department began scrutinizing Feeding Our Future's site applications more carefully, and denied dozens of them. No. : In the wake of nearly 50 federal indictments alleging massive fraud from a Minnesota meal program for children, the Minnesota Department of Education is hoping to recover both money and its reputation. The defendants created dozens of shell companies to enroll in the program as Federal Child Nutrition Program sites. People under criminal investigation such as Bock are often reluctant to speak publicly. The lawsuit goes back to November 2020 when Feeding Our Future alleged that since Sept. 8, 2020, it had submitted 51 applications to open new distribution centers in low-income and minority communities that MDE failed to process. My client meant wellshe still means well, and we hope that the jury will see that all did was try to help folks.. They didnt finish the investigation before shutting the system down and publicizing it. Investigators accused Bock, the executive director of Feeding Our Future, of receiving a $310,000 kickback from a restaurant owner involved in the scheme. Shari L. Gross/Star Tribune via Getty The search warrants also alleged that Bock used the money to write a $70,000 cashiers check to her ex-husband. Aimee Bock is the founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit organization in Minnesota that participated in the Federal Child Nutrition Program. Udoibok: No. These indictments, alleging the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme charged to date, underscore the Department of Justices sustained commitment to combating pandemic fraud and holding accountable those who perpetrate it, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in the news release. Why is nobody asking them where their profit margins went? Heres an example of how the scheme allegedly worked. At the time of last months FBI raids, Feeding Our Future worked with 200 nonprofitsusually independent daycare organizations and afterschool programswith the stated purpose, Bock said, of feeding 100,000 Minnesota children each day. There are people that have better relationships and more of an ability to grow. Looking for all the latest news on the Feeding Our Future investigation? The USDAs Food and Nutrition Service administers the program throughout the nation by distributing federal funds to state governments. She has to defend herself against the search warrants, and the search warrants took liberties, significant liberties, factually.. Help us reach 150 new monthly donors by March 15. They were down to a couple of gas stations. Artan registered Stigma-Free International, a non-profit entity used to carry out the scheme with sites throughout Minnesota, including in Willmar, Mankato, St. It was just the business and the equipment, the stuff inside of it. Floor leveling that had to be done. As a result of the raids last month, the FBI obtained accounting documents that Bock and Udoibok say will vindicate her and Feeding Our Future. (The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. Udoibok said that after seizing scores of documents during last months multiple raids, the FBI now has all of the relevant information. I know he went to Vegas. The news release says: The Federal Child Nutrition Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is a federally funded program designed to provide free meals to children in need. But when you say its a kickback, the use of the word is not supported by any evidence. : The following people are named in the indictment United States v. Qamar Ahmed Hassan, et al. The U.S. Department of Agricultures food service programs the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program work in tandem to ensure low-income children are provided free, nutritious meals year-round, including after school and when schools are not in session. We did market analysis. Unlock our in-depth reporting by signing up for our free newsletter. "These sites, created and operated by the defendants and others, fraudulently claimed to be serving meals to thousands of children a day within just days or weeks of being formed.". Send us an email at contact@sahanjournal.com. This site claimed to have served more than 500,000 meals and received more than $1 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. . Again, that falls into the line of what these for-profit companies are doing is outside of the scope of what Feeding Our Future can mandate. Sahan Journal is a nonprofit newsroom and your tax-deductible donations help us keep bringing you and every Minnesotan essential, nonpartisan information. Aimee Marie Bock, 41, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery. Most of the time it is a for-profit organization like a grocery store or restaurant. Aimee Bock. Last week, the always alert Lou Raguse of KARE-11 noticed that the state Department of Education (MDE) has renewed its $583,000 claim against the now-defunct nonprofit Feeding Our Future (Feeding, FOF). Bock and Feeding Our Future filed a lawsuit accusing MDE of denying the site applications due to discrimination in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Its still ongoing. Be as detailed as possible. Feeding Our Future or Filling our Pockets! Meanwhile, Aimee Bock of Feeding. Want more? Free and open company data on Minnesota (US) company Feeding Our Future (company number 81d2eea8-0aa5-e611-816f-00155d01c56d), c/o Legal for Good PLLC, 5353 Gamble Dr., Suite 320, St. Louis Park, MN, 55416 If the allegation was there is a deposit of $310,000 in the account that is unaccounted for, thats a fair, objective statement. That means it needs to be free! Weinvite you to learn more about the food program and the financial benefit available to your program. Udoibok said Bock was doing well, and that they were informed earlier in the day that she would be indicted and required to surrender. Abdinasir Abshir ran the Stigma-Free Mankato site. Operations fraudulently reported providing more than 200 food sites the state theres a conflict of interest, FBI. More about the food program and the equipment, the stuff inside of it now... With us and money laundering to learn more about the food program and the equipment, the involved! 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aimee bock, feeding our future mn