Courtroom sketch by Cedric Hohnstadt Illustration, L.L.C.
Convicted Feeding Our Future fraudster Salim Said was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in the infamous free-food scandal. The sentence was handed down this morning by Judge Nancy Brasel, who presided over his 2025 courtroom trial in which he was convicted by a unanimous jury on 21 felony counts of wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering.
He was also ordered to repay the more than $44 million that he and his dozen or so co-conspirators stole from the federal child nutrition program.
He was the co-owner of the now-closed Safari Restaurant of south Minneapolis. Court records show that Safari represented the largest single fake food location in the entire scandal.
Said is not an American citizen, so he may still be subject to deportation at some point in the future.
The 30-year sentence was as the bottom of the sentencing guidelines calculated for Said. The guidelines ranged from 30 years to 250 years. The high end would represent serving the maximum sentences for all 21 felony counts consecutively.
Said’s attorney suggested a sentence of 12 years,
The attorney delved into Said’s rough upbringing back in Somalia. He also compared the sentences received by defendants in other cases.
Prosecutors requested a sentence of 40 years, just below the 42 years received by Feeding Our Future CEO Aimee Bock.
Both sides mades comparisons to the 28-year sentenced imposed on Abdiaziz Farah, the head of the Empire Cuisine group of defendants.
Judge Brasel noted the $44 million stolen from taxpayer, but also mentioned the damage done by Said on his co-defendants to trust in government. She wondered how many years it would take for the words “Minnesota” and “fraud” to no longer be synonymous.
Said gained notoriety for his starring role in that 54-minute recording made between state Attorney General Keith Ellison and Feeding Our Future fraudsters. The meeting occurred in December 2021 and the recording was a never-introduced exhibit in Said’s jury trial. Said’s voice is the first one heard on the recording.
Said also gave a campaign donation to Minneapolis City Councilman Jeremiah Ellison, Keith Ellison’s son, at a joint fundraiser held shortly after that December 2021 meeting,
Said’s Safari restaurant was also the site of a promotional video shot by U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in 2020.
