A 45-year-old white woman, Aimee Bock, is now facing up to 33 years in prison after being convicted of masterminding a $250 million COVID-19 fraud scheme in Minnesota. While prosecutors say the scheme was orchestrated by Somali Americans, Bock claims she was the driving force behind it and that state officials should share the blame.
"I wish I could go back and do things differently, stop things, catch things," Bock said, reflecting on her actions during an exclusive interview from her jail cell. "I believed we were doing everything in our power to protect the program." The nonprofit she ran, Feeding Our Future, was awarded millions of dollars to provide meals to children, but prosecutors say most of that money was used to fund a lavish lifestyle for Bock and her associates.
Bock's organization grew rapidly during the pandemic, submitting nearly $200 million in claims in 2021, compared to just $3.4 million the previous year. However, she denies any wrongdoing, saying state officials allowed her organization to operate with lax oversight. "We relied on the state," she said, adding that local officials, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, would often visit meal sites and give their seal of approval.
Bock's defense raises questions about accountability and whether state officials were more interested in shutting down her operation than addressing potential fraud. Her lawyer claims the state was trying to find a scapegoat for its own failures and that Bock was unfairly targeted.
The case highlights tensions between immigrant communities, local officials, and federal authorities. As Minneapolis saw an influx of ICE agents following the killing of Renee Good, a Somali American woman killed by an ICE agent during an arrest, the issue of immigration enforcement has become increasingly politicized in Minnesota.
Bock's experience also raises concerns about systemic racism and discriminatory practices within state agencies. Her lawsuit alleging that the state's scrutiny of Somali applicants was discriminatory remains unresolved, leaving many wondering whether the pursuit of accountability is being used to deflect blame for larger failures.
With Bock now awaiting sentencing, her case will likely remain a contentious issue in Minnesota politics, with some calling for greater oversight and accountability within state agencies.
"I wish I could go back and do things differently, stop things, catch things," Bock said, reflecting on her actions during an exclusive interview from her jail cell. "I believed we were doing everything in our power to protect the program." The nonprofit she ran, Feeding Our Future, was awarded millions of dollars to provide meals to children, but prosecutors say most of that money was used to fund a lavish lifestyle for Bock and her associates.
Bock's organization grew rapidly during the pandemic, submitting nearly $200 million in claims in 2021, compared to just $3.4 million the previous year. However, she denies any wrongdoing, saying state officials allowed her organization to operate with lax oversight. "We relied on the state," she said, adding that local officials, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, would often visit meal sites and give their seal of approval.
Bock's defense raises questions about accountability and whether state officials were more interested in shutting down her operation than addressing potential fraud. Her lawyer claims the state was trying to find a scapegoat for its own failures and that Bock was unfairly targeted.
The case highlights tensions between immigrant communities, local officials, and federal authorities. As Minneapolis saw an influx of ICE agents following the killing of Renee Good, a Somali American woman killed by an ICE agent during an arrest, the issue of immigration enforcement has become increasingly politicized in Minnesota.
Bock's experience also raises concerns about systemic racism and discriminatory practices within state agencies. Her lawsuit alleging that the state's scrutiny of Somali applicants was discriminatory remains unresolved, leaving many wondering whether the pursuit of accountability is being used to deflect blame for larger failures.
With Bock now awaiting sentencing, her case will likely remain a contentious issue in Minnesota politics, with some calling for greater oversight and accountability within state agencies.
but come on, $250 million and most of it went to her lavish lifestyle 
. And then she's like "I was just trying to do good" 
. Meanwhile, state officials are like "Uh, we didn't check our work" 
. I mean, who tries to find a scapegoat when they're the ones who messed up? 
It's all about accountability, folks! And by the way, this case is just another example of how messed up things can get when politics and power play mix 
. So yeah, Bock better watch out for that 33-year sentence 
!
A $250 million scheme? That's just insane 
. It's all about who you know and who's got connections 
. Meanwhile, Somali Americans are already facing so much scrutiny from federal authorities... 
. I'm not saying they're innocent or anything, but let's be real, this case is a perfect example of systemic racism in action 
. And the fact that Bock's lawyer claims she was unfairly targeted because the state was trying to find a scapegoat is just a huge cop-out 
I feel bad for Aimee, she sounds like she was really misled by the system and that's not okay at all 
but on the other hand, $250 million is a LOT of money and it's crazy how quickly Feeding Our Future grew during the pandemic 
what do you guys think? Should Aimee be held accountable or is she just a scapegoat for the system's failures? 
. I mean, 33 years in prison? That's insane! And it sounds like Bock was just caught up in the chaos of the pandemic, not that she masterminded anything on purpose 
. And can we talk about how the system failed her? It's like, if they were doing their job properly, maybe some of this wouldn't have happened 
.
. The fact that her org grew so rapidly is a major red flag, and it's wild that she thinks the state should share the blame 
... my cousin's friend's sister actually got pulled over by ICE last year 
she was driving back from a family gathering & they just stopped her & started asking her a million questions... no charges were ever filed tho thankfully 
but still it highlights the issues that are at play here 
. And Aimee Bock thinks she's innocent? Like, no way, girl 
.
? Like, what really went down here? Was it all about scapegoating Somali Americans or just some good old-fashioned corruption? We need to get to the bottom of this 
.
.
We need more transparency, not just empty apologies from politicians. And what about the systemic racism concerns? That's a whole other can of worms...
And the worst part is, she's got the nerve to blame everyone else but herself! "We relied on the state" – yeah right, Aimee, it sounds like you relied on your own selfishness and lack of integrity. 
.
, Bock's lawyer is right on point about how the state was trying to deflect blame and not do its job properly 
, like we need a scapegoat instead of taking responsibility? 
This whole thing is just crazy. Like, I get it, COVID-19 was a huge crisis and people were desperate for help, but 33 years in prison? 
. Bock's experience highlights the tension between immigrant communities and local authorities, especially when it comes to immigration enforcement 
. I mean, it's one thing to make mistakes, but 33 years in prison? That seems way too harsh to me 
. I think we need to be careful not to rush to judgment and make sure we're holding everyone accountable, including those in power