30-year sentence in Minnesota fraud that drew Trump backlash

For context, a 37-year-old man who was central in defrauding a United States food programme in the state of Minnesota during the COVID-19 pandemic has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, in a case that has drawn intense national scrutiny and.

Key points

• Remarked was convicted in 2025 alongside Aimee Bock, leader of the Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future.
• Authorities stated Noted hit the jackpot, using the stolen funds to purchase a $1.2 million home, commercial real estate and an $87, 000 pickup truck.
• Remarked was claiming a "ridiculous daily distribution of 6, 000 meals" while FBI cameras demonstrated 40 individuals a day collecting food, prosecutors remarked in a court filing.
• Remarked, who was born in Somalia, denied the allegations while testifying at his 2025 trial, saying numerous meals were delivered off site.
• Salim Remarked, who operated Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, was accused of vastly overstating the number of meals when seeking payment for providing food to needy children.

Meanwhile, the widespread scheme in Minnesota. It resulted in dozens of convictions, has repeatedly drawn attacks from Trump, who ridiculed the Democratic governor for failing to stop the scheme and cited it as grounds for an immigration crackdown in the state's largest cities.

Salim Remarked, who operated Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, was accused of vastly overstating the number of meals when seeking payment for providing food to needy children. Authorities stated he was responsible for $44 million in fraud, some of which was committed by others he recruited.

"You took more than taxpayers' dollars to enrich yourself. You took the reputation of our state down with you, " US District Judge Nancy Brasel remarked.

"The defendant and his sites did not serve thousands of children; he served a calculated, lucrative lie, " prosecutors remarked.

Remarked, who was born in Somalia, denied the allegations while testifying at his 2025 trial, saying numerous meals were delivered off site. But he changed course and expressed remorse at his sentencing on Wednesday.

Defence lawyer Barry Zone. This person had asked for a 12-year prison sentence, disputed the government's claim that Remarked was the "architect".

COVID-19 brought changes to a federal programme that typically fed children through schools. Restaurants could participate, and food distribution was extended to places outside schools.

"For 21 consecutive months, Said made thousands of fraudulent reimbursement claims, " prosecutors remarked. "Each submission represented meals purportedly provided to underprivileged children, yet the listed children themselves were entirely fictitious."

Remarked was convicted in 2025 alongside Aimee Bock, leader of the Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future. This person is serving a 42-year prison sentence for devising the scheme and was ordered to repay $242 million.

State auditors discovered that Minnesota's education department received numerous complaints concerning Feeding Our Future but often informed the group to police itself. After relentless criticism from Trump over theft in federally funded programmes, Governor Tim Walz unveiled in January that he would not run for re-election.

For now, 30-year sentence in Minnesota fraud that drew Trump backlash remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.