Convicted Leader In Minnesota’s Alleged $250M Child-Meal Fraud Speaks From Jail

Aimee Bock, the founder of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, has given her first public interview since being convicted in a scheme prosecutors say diverted roughly $250 million from federally funded child meal programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bock, 45, denies being the mastermind, says she tried to block fraudulent claims and places blame on state oversight failures.

Conviction, Penalties And Claims

A jury found Bock guilty on all counts after a five-week trial; she now faces up to 33 years in prison and has been ordered to forfeit more than $5 million. Prosecutors say she signed reimbursement claims for millions of meals that were never served and accepted bribes, and they have linked tens of millions in stolen funds to luxury purchases and real-estate transactions.

'I wish I could go back and do things differently, stop things, catch things,' Bock told reporters from jail. 'I believed we were doing everything in our power to protect the program.'

Scope Of The Investigation

Federal authorities have charged 78 defendants connected to Feeding Our Future; more than 60 have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial. Prosecutors note that, aside from Bock, the defendants are Somali American. The investigation and the convictions have intensified debate over fraud, pandemic-era program flexibility and immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

Growth, Oversight And Dispute

Feeding Our Future's reported claims grew sharply during the pandemic: about $3.4 million in 2019 versus nearly $200 million in 2021. Bock says the spike was driven by USDA waivers that allowed parents to pick up meals and enabled home delivery, expanding participation dramatically. She contends that her organization relied on state approvals for meal sites and that Minnesota education officials shared responsibility for oversight.

Bock's attorney circulated video showing stacked food at some meal sites and said she worked to detect and block fraud. Bock also said she terminated dozens of agreements she believed were fraudulent. State officials, including the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), contend they referred Feeding Our Future to the FBI in 2021 and say they acted within legal constraints.

Political And Community Context

The case has intersected with broader political tensions: it has been cited by federal officials urging augmented immigration enforcement, and it has drawn scrutiny of state leadership, including Governor Tim Walz. Community leaders say the nonprofit filled a need in food deserts and that Bock at times advocated strongly on behalf of Somali applicants after alleging discriminatory delays by the state.

During the trial, prosecutors introduced evidence including text messages in which Bock compared the organization to the mob; defense attorneys stress Bock's work feeding children and dispute claims she enriched herself personally. Bock maintains most seized funds were nonprofit assets and says personal luxury spending was minimal.

What Happens Next

Bock awaits sentencing. The larger investigation into Feeding Our Future continues to shape local and national discussions about pandemic-era program oversight, how fraud is detected and prosecuted, and the political implications of enforcement actions tied to immigration and community services.