Feeding our Future ringleader Aimee Bock sentenced: Full details

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The convicted ringleader behind the massive $250 million Feeding our Future fraud scheme in Minnesota is now set to learn her fate on Thursday.

Aimee Bock sentenced

What she got:

A judge has sentenced Aimee Bock to 41.5 years in prison for her role in the Feeding our Future fraud scheme.

Bock was also ordered to pay $243 million in restitution back to the federal government.

What they're saying:

After court, former acting attorney Joe Thompson spoke with media members. He reacted to Bock getting emotion in the courtroom.

"I don't take anything Aimee Bock says at face value," Thompson said. "Obviously, I'm sure she's emotional and sad. It's hard to watch someone be sentenced. That's true in any case, regardless of how bad the crime is."

Bock's attorney, Kenneth Ubong Udoibok, tried to paint Bock as a do-gooder who was trying to help the East African community with her nonprofit.

"Aimee Bock wanted to give access to food programs and professionalism," Udoibok said. "She didn't set out to commit fraud. She saw the East African communities. She saw minorities in need of food and professional development. She gave them access, and they betrayed her. And she's going away for 42 years."

When pushed by a reporter that Bock "poked the bear" Udoibok admitted she did. "And you don't fight city hall," he responded.

Live updates from court

10:29 a.m. – Sobbing Aimee Bock apologizes

In court, an emotional Aimee Bock apologized to the court.

Before the judge, Bock said: "I understand I failed. I failed the public, my family, everyone."

10:15 a.m. – State will never be the same again

Prosecution say Bock's actions caused lasting harm to Minnesota as they make their final arguments before her sentence is handed down.

"The state of Minnesota will never be the same because of the actions of Amy Bock," the prosecution argued.

The remarks are similar to what prosecutors wrote in the sentencing recommendations this week. Again, they are asking that Bock get 50 years in prison.

10:03 a.m. – Judge agrees with 100-year cap

Judge Brasel agrees the 100-year max guideline is appropriate for Bock.

Bock's attorneys are expected to argue for a much lesser sentence and Bock herself is expected to speak.

10 a.m. – Judge says Bock committed perjury

The judge finds Bock committed perjury during testimony, lying about recruiting board members for Feeding our Future.

9:46 a.m. – Judge rules Bock is culpable for the full $243M fraud

Judge Brasel has ruled that Bock should be held accountable for the full $243 million fraud conspiracy, pointing to her leadership role within Feeding our Future.

The court is now moving forward with the sentencing phase and restitution.

9:23 a.m. – Judge works to establish proper sentencing guidelines

Judge Nancy Brasel is attempting to establish the correct sentencing guidelines for Bock.

Prosecutors argued in their recommendations that, as the ringleader of the massive $250 million fraud scheme, Bock should face up to 100 years behind bars. They ultimately recommended 50 years in prison.

Bock's attorneys argued that since she received far less from the scheme than the total $250 million, a three-year sentence was more fitting.

Bock has kept her head down for most of the hearing.

9 a.m. – Bock arrives in court

Aimee bock arrives in court shortly after 9 a.m. dressed in a baggy green jailhouse uniform.

There isn't an empty seat in the courthouse for the sentencing between media, spectators and even former U.S. Attorney prosecutors who have shown up. That includes former acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, who was lead prosecutor on the Feeding our Future case. Thompson left the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota at the height of the federal surge in January.

The court is even using the jury box to allow for extra seating for the sentencing hearing.

Aimee Bock sentencing

What we know:

More than a year after she was found guilty of her role in the fraud scheme, former Feeding our Future founder Aimee Bock was finally sentenced on Thursday.

Prosecutors said Bock was the "mastermind" behind the massive $250 million fraud scheme during the pandemic.

The backstory:

Bock was found guilty of seven counts at trial, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery and federal programs bribery.

At trial, prosecutors showed Bock recruited food vendors and restaurants to enroll in the federal child nutrition program under Feeding our Future's sponsorship, and claimed to serve thousands of meals to children during the pandemic. Authorities say the vendors either lied about the number of meals served or inflated the number of meals served and pocketed the excess funds.

Prosecutors asked for 50 years for Bock

By the numbers:

Ahead of sentencing this week, prosecutors filed their recommendation on the sentence, asking a judge to hand down 50 years behind bars for Bock.

"Her actions have permanently altered the state, and not for the better," prosecutors write. "The Court must send a clear and unequivocal message to Bock and to anyone who might believe they can exploit state and federal safety net programs that such conduct will be met with the strongest possible consequences. Stealing funds intended to feed children is a profound breach of trust that demands accountability."

Prosecutors said Bock has never admitted to the crimes or shown regret. While behind bars, prosecutors say she broke a court protective order by telling her son to send anonymous emails to state lawmakers claiming she was set up as a scapegoat by Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison.

"To this day, Bock has denied responsibility for her crimes. She has not expressed an ounce of remorse for her actions. She appears to have felt no shame."

The other side:

In response to the government, Bock's attorneys pointed out that she had records of terminating vendors from Feeding our Future for fraud.

Her attorneys claimed that she was "isolated" because she didn't speak the Somali language like other defendants in the fraud case and wasn't aware of the fraud. They also try to shift the blame on the Minnesota Department of Education, saying the state was aware of fraud as early as 2020 but failed to act. However, it's worth noting that the state did attempt to shut down Feeding our Future in 2020 and Bock sued to stop it – then celebrated when they won the lawsuit.

Her defense sought a three-year sentence for Bock.

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