Salim Said sentenced for role in $250 million pandemic food fraud

Salim Said, a central figure in the massive Feeding Our Future pandemic fraud case, has been sentenced to prison for his role in a scheme that defrauded federal food programs of millions of dollars.

Prosecutors identified Said as the “undisputed architect” of the operation, which involved fabricating meal counts to claim federal funds intended for needy children. While Said claimed to provide up to 6,000 meals daily through his Minneapolis-based Safari Restaurant, FBI surveillance reportedly showed an average of only 40 people visiting the establishment.

Authorities allege that Said and his associates routed more than $44 million in illicit funds through his businesses. The stolen money was reportedly used to fund a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of a $1.2 million luxury home, commercial real estate, high-end vehicles, and designer goods.

Said, a native of Somalia, denied the allegations during his trial, maintaining that his restaurant was a legitimate hub for the local Somali community. The sentencing follows a sprawling investigation into the Feeding Our Future program, which saw dozens of convictions related to COVID-19 relief fraud in Minnesota.