Salim Said, a convicted fraudster with connections to Representative Ilhan Omar, has been living lavishly by exploiting federal programs designed to assist underprivileged children.
His large 6,000-square-foot mansion in Minneapolis is filled with designer items, including bags, shoes, and luxury watches valued at around $60,000.
Now, federal investigators are taking action to reclaim those assets.
Prosecutors are seeking judicial permission to seize Said’s possessions so that he can contribute towards his proposed sentence of $7.8 million, stemming from his involvement in the “Feeding the Future” scandal.
The extensive list of luxury items was revealed in legal documents filed last week, showcasing a Mercedes GLA-Class from 2021 and a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, along with a $14,000 Rolex Submariner and a high-end Brunello Cucinelli coat worth nearly $10,000.
Said also owned several luxury bags and shoes, with items like an $800 Prada tote and a $2,800 Burberry trench coat among the more extravagant purchases.
In terms of footwear, he had expensive choices such as $1,600 Christian Louboutin boots and $900 Balenciaga sneakers.
On top of that, prosecutors aim to access his five bank accounts containing $514,000, as well as seize his $1.3 million Minnesota home and $3 million in commercial properties in Columbus, Ohio, along with other valuables.
During a pre-conviction hearing in March, it was argued that Said had been spending $9,000 a month at Nordstrom, categorizing this as unjust enrichment.
At 37, he previously received $16 million in federal aid for his restaurant to provide meals for children during the pandemic. He was convicted of stealing over $12 million, including charges of wire fraud and bribery, for submitting claims for about 3.9 million non-existent meals.
Interestingly, his trial attracted attention due to an attempted bribe involving a gift bag with $120,000 delivered to a juror just before closing arguments.
While Omar hasn’t been charged in relation to this growing healthcare fraud investigation, she shares several connections with Said. He co-owned the now-closed Safari Restaurant, where Omar celebrated her 2018 election victory. Donations from the restaurant’s co-owners to her campaign have also surfaced.
During the fraud’s occurrence in 2020, Omar appeared in a promotional video for Safari, praising the meal program, which later turned out to be a fraudulent scheme.
In the video, she claimed the restaurant provided 2,300 meals daily in a montage filmed in which she appeared without a mask properly fitting her face.
Somali-born Omar introduced the MEALS Act, which some critics contend led to decreased oversight of government meal programs, possibly facilitating fraud.
Her own finances have raised questions too, as she reported to Congress that her wealth rose significantly, reportedly peaking at $30 million.
Omar has not yet provided any comments regarding the situation.
