Judge sentences Salim Said to 30 years in federal prison in Feeding Our Future case

The sentence

U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel sentenced Salim Said to 30 years in federal prison on a Wednesday. ^[1] Said is the co-owner of the former Safari Restaurant on Lake Street in Minneapolis. ^[1]

Prosecutors asked for a 40-year sentence for Said, while his defense attorneys asked for only 12 years. ^[2] The sentence falls between the two requests. ^[1][2]

His sentence also requires three years of supervised release after prison. ^[1] Because Said is a legal permanent U.S. resident, he could face deportation. ^[1]

What prosecutors say Said did

In their sentencing memo, prosecutors described Said as the ringleader and 'undisputed architect' who essentially 'franchised' the fraudulent operation across the state. ^[2] They say he expanded it through a nonprofit that purported to operate food distribution sites in Willmar, St. Cloud and Mankato. ^[2]

Safari claimed to serve thousands of meals per day, but FBI surveillance showed an average of just 40 people per day stopping to collect food. ^[2]

Said also paid bribes to Feeding Our Future employee Abdikerm Eidleh, who was arrested in Somalia in June and returned to the U.S. ^[1]

The defense case

Defense attorney Barry Zone said Said had a traumatic childhood in Somalia in which he was verbally, physically and sexually abused. ^[1] Zone said Said was once left tied to a tree in an isolated area with wild animals. ^[1]

Zone also argued that Said was not in the position of Bock, saying she signed every check and was the gatekeeper of all the money. ^[1] Bock was convicted of leading a scheme to steal several hundred million dollars from taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs through fraudulent reimbursement claims. ^[1]

Said apologized for his crimes, saying he was deeply sorry for his involvement in the case. ^[1]

What the judge said

Brasel told Said that he took more than taxpayer money to enrich himself and took the reputation of the state down with him. ^[1] She said Said was responsible for the breaking of the public's faith in government. ^[2]

Brasel said she had a hard time connecting Said's background with the greed that drove the fraud. ^[1] She noted he had a good restaurant job and was not in a financial tough spot. ^[1]

Who the victims are

Prosecutors argued that public programs depend on trust and that Said's crime will continue to impact the state for generations. ^[2] Kline said the victims are the state, its taxpayers, and people who rely on public institutions. ^[3]