A woman at the heart of a significant pandemic fraud case in Minnesota received a 41-and-a-half-year prison sentence on Thursday, the longest handed down to anyone involved in the “Feed the Future” scheme.
Amy Bock, 45, who previously served as the executive director of Feeding Our Future, is accused of orchestrating the theft of approximately $250 million in federal funds that were meant for child meal programs in the Axios Twin Cities area.
This represents the largest pandemic fraud case in the U.S. and puts Governor Tim Walz (D-Minn.) in a challenging position, especially in light of widespread fraud in various state programs during his administration.
Bock was also ordered to pay back $243 million to the federal government. Following her sentencing, she expressed her remorse to Judge Nancy Brazell, stating, “I don’t have the words to express how terrible I feel. I know I’m responsible.”
Judge Brazell allegedly noted that Bock committed perjury during the trial, remarking, “This was a vortex of fraud, and you were at the epicenter of it.”
Her sentence is somewhat less than the 50 years sought by federal prosecutors, while her attorney requested only three years, arguing that Bock was not aware of the fraudulent activities, according to reports.
Bock is among roughly 80 individuals charged in this fraud scandal, with over 60 people already convicted or found guilty.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) labeled Bock the ‘mastermind’ behind the scheme in a statement following her conviction. They indicated that she created numerous shell companies for laundering money, which participated in the food program.
The DOJ also revealed that employees accepted bribes and kickbacks for their involvement in the program, often disguised as “consulting fees.”
“The defendants falsely reported providing 91 million meals and fraudulently received around $250 million in federal funds,” an Assistant U.S. Attorney noted. “That money wasn’t used to feed children; it funded extravagant lifestyles. Today’s verdict demonstrates that the community won’t tolerate fraud against the government.”
