She has denied wrongdoing and argued that if fraud occurred, it was without her knowledge. This is a tired, worn-out building. Aimee Bock. "It shook me to my core. The charges noted that the restaurant generated no more than $600,000 in annual sales prior to the pandemic. Following the search warrant operation, Bock defended Feeding Our Future and denied allegations of fraud in an interview with a local Minnesota outlet, the Sahan Journal. ", "It was like we have the female version of Robin Hood in Minnesota," Jamal said recently. Since the F.B.I. And if they got one over on us, I will help hold them accountable.. Bock: I think the feds are acting on bad intel. . Aimee Bock, referenced in Friday's press release as Feeding Our Future's "embattled executive director," said in a statement . 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. But both Bock and Udoibok said the circumstances of the Feeding Our Future federal investigation are unusual. Feeding Our Future sued the state and claimed the education department was discriminating against a nonprofit that worked with racial minorities after the department halted payments to the nonprofit by early 2021. raids, there are suggestions that some people are still trying to game the system. The owner of S & S Catering and other co-conspirators opened sites across the Twin Cities and claimed to have served millions of meals. Bock benefitted from the expanding fees collected by Feeding Our Future, which typically kept 10% to 15% of all reimbursement payments for administrative purposes, according to the charges. I wish that the government had taken that into consideration when making this allegation. Luger described the wave of indictments unsealed Tuesday as "the first set of charges" in the continuing investigation. In some cases, conspirators consulted websites to find names. The defendants exploited changes in the program intended to ensure underserved children received adequate nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the accused ringleader of a conspiracy that cost taxpayers $250 million, Bock, 41, is an unlikely criminal mastermind. Sign up for theirfree newsletterto receive their stories in your inbox. She was fired for misconduct in 2018, according to a complaint Partners filed with federal regulators over Feeding Our Future's conduct in 2019. We have to be able to operate, and we cant operate if we dont have a space. Lily Crooks, a day care center operator in Minneapolis, said she was dismayed when a new sponsor called to recruit her and immediately offered a plan to fool the state. The aide has denied wrongdoing. indictment: United States Attorney Andrew Luger thanked the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Bock, who set her salary at $190,000 this year, was forced to turn over $185,000 in her bank account and the keys to her 2013 Porsche Panamera during the Jan. 20 search of her home. 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. What is Feeding Our Future? , Star Tribune United States v. Sharmake Jama, et al., 22-CR-225 (NEB/TNL), charges six defendants with wire fraud, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering for their roles in the Federal Child Nutrition Program fraud scheme. In fact, its the opposite. Though some state legislators have faulted MDE for not acting more aggressively on its fraud suspicions, Luger declined to assess the department's oversight. Eidleh could not be reached for comment and court records indicate he does not have an attorney yet. But there was no intention to go out there and waste government money.. Meanwhile, Aimee Bock of Feeding Our Future has denied wrongdoing. Mr. Said said his group had served meals at the site but declined to cite how many. We had to build out offices. Nur is charged with four others in one indictment that alleged a $25 million fraud scheme. Tuesday's arrests mark the latest high-profile chapter in a federal probe that started more than a year ago and included a sweeping FBI search warrant operation in January that spilled into public view. And what is that information? . The organization's primary funding is from . Feeding Our Future took millions in federal money in 2020. Nur was appalled, and his video created a stir in the Somali community. She appeared in court hours earlier on allegations that she embezzled federal money earmarked to feed underprivileged children. Sams Club, Costco, and Aldi get by far the largest chunk of the money. Staff writer Kelly Smith contributed to this report. United States v. Qamar Ahmed Hassan, et al., 22-CR-224 (NEB/TNL), charges eight defendants with conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering for their roles the Federal Child Nutrition Program fraud scheme. Main address. He previously covered Minnesota politics and government. Some of them were start-up nonprofits that had sprung up during the pandemic and never served food before. It wasnt real estate. Those meals were served in the months immediately following the pandemic. Child nutrition programs include money for administration and for maintenance, because you have to be able to sustain a business. No. On Monday morning, roughly a dozen people huddled in Feeding Our Futures St. Anthony headquarters as Bock and her lawyer, Kenneth Udoibok, spoke at length about the allegations. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. To get reimbursed, Bock said the nonprofits must submit documentation to Feeding Our Future, including the menu of meals theyve served, the number of meals served, receipts for the meals, and, sometimes, attendance records of the children served. The DoE even halted payments to Feeding Our Future in early 2021, prompting Blcok to sue the agency for discrimination because the nonprofit worked with minority communities (especially Minneapolis large Somali community). The USDA then provides MDE federal reimbursement funds on a per-meal basis. I can tell you with 100 percent confidence, all of that money was spent in accordance with the regulations surrounding child nutrition programs. The Minnesota Department of Education, which administers the federal funding to Feeding Our Future, reported information to the FBI that prompted the eight-month investigation. The news, analysis and community conversation found here is funded by donations from individuals. After that, Feeding Our Future began to grow rapidly, adding dozens of new sites to its network. Most of the time it is a for-profit organization like a grocery store or restaurant. See Photos. Alishire couldn't be reached for comment. People under criminal investigation such as Bock are often reluctant to speak publicly. Many of the kickbacks were paid in cash or disguised as "consulting fees" paid to shell companies created by Feeding Our Future employees to conceal the true nature of the payments and make them appear legitimate, the indictment alleges. (Ms. Bock said the state records were wrong, and she had never claimed that food was served there.). Because every time they've tried to walk through the door it's gotten slammed in their face.". Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. She is required to do auditing and inspection of sites three times a year. But the Board approved it. "We are pleased by the thorough cooperation we got from MDE throughout this investigation.". During the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA waived some of the standard requirements for participation in the Federal Child Nutrition Program. Like other center operators, Ali said Bock made sure she got every dollar she was entitled to by flagging problems on her reimbursement claims. I dont get to call my electrician and say, Hey, I know you profited off of the work you did for me, how are you spending the money? I dont get to call the Sams Clubs and Costcos that have gotten money for the food and say, What are you buying with your profit? No. The feds have the purchase agreement, they have it all. Based on their fraudulent claims, the defendants received more than $25 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds, which they misappropriated for their own personal benefit, including expenditures such as vehicles, real estate, and travel. Some operators said they were attracted to Feeding Our Future because the group kept just 10 percent of reimbursement claims for administrative fees, versus 15 percent at other nonprofits. After moving to the Twin Cities with her family in 2009, Bock got a job at a daycare center in Burnsville, starting out working with infants. Bock and others are accused of defrauding the Federal Child Nutrition Program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and helps bring free meals to children in need. Partners complained that Feeding Our Future was breaking the rules by initiating contact with its providers, which is forbidden, but state regulators dismissed the complaint in 2020, saying the allegations "could not be substantiated," records show. Shell companies were allegedly created to enroll in the program as sites, too, and additional shell companies were made to launder the money all these sites claimed was going to feed hungry kids. Aimee Bock, the executive director of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, speaks out for the first time after accusations the group's partners defrauded the federal government of millions of dollars, Thursday, January 27, 2022 in St. Anthony, Minn. Bock, appearing with her lawyers Kenneth Udoibok and Nancy Hylden, has not been charged. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Try our monthly plan today. Feeding Our Future executive director Aimee Bock did not respond to calls for comment Thursday evening. I was like, All right. Mr. Stayberg declined to give the friends name. All of that had to be built up from the ground. Trump Melts Down Over Murdoch Admitting Fox Lied About Election Fraud The Minnesota case involves two multibillion-dollar federal food-aid programs, both funded by the Agriculture Department but administered by states. In fact, the state paid the group more than $197 million after the first suspicions were raised. Qamar Ahmed Hassan, owner and operator of S & S Catering Inc. in Minneapolis. But Bock was clear-eyed about what she considers her mission in life, which she described as finding a way to help level the field for immigrants and other people of color. Minnesotas attorney general, Keith Ellison, said on Thursday that he was conducting a separate investigation of the group to determine whether it had violated state nonprofit laws. 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