Welfare Fraud Queen Loses Millions in Assets

Aimee Bock, the alleged ringleader of a $250 million Minnesota welfare fraud scandal, has been ordered to forfeit millions in assets. This includes a Porsche, diamond jewelry, and substantial bank account funds, following a judge's order just before New Year's Eve. Bock, 44, was found guilty in March after a six-week trial for her role in one of the largest fraud schemes during the pandemic era.

The vast majority of the over 57 individuals convicted thus far are from Minnesota's Somali community, a fact that has amplified the national attention on the case. The scandal involved federal nutrition funds intended to provide meals for children from low-income families. Instead, fraudsters falsely claimed to have served millions of meals, while the money was allegedly siphoned off for personal use and property.

Law enforcement has stated that only about $75 million of the $250 million has been recovered. Bock, a former schoolteacher, led the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which saw its federal funding skyrocket from $3 million in 2019 to nearly $200 million by 2021. Her defense attorney claims she was a scapegoat and plans to appeal her conviction.