A Feeding Our Future defendant has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for her role in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick.
Sahra Nur, 63, of Minneapolis, was also ordered to pay restitution of over $5 million.
A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office states that between December 2020 through January 2022, Nur knowingly and willfully conspired with others in a fraudulent scheme to obtain and misappropriate millions in federal child nutrition funds. As the owner and operator of S & S Catering Inc., Nur initially enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program as a food distribution site under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future (FOF). As the fraud scheme progressed, S & S Catering operated as a vendor for other food distribution sites affiliated with Feeding Our Future.
Between September 2020 and April 2021, Nur claimed to have served over 1.2 million meals to children from S & S Catering alone. Between December 2020 and December 2021, sites who used S & S Catering as a vendor reported serving more than eight million meals through the food program. Based on their fraudulent claims, S & S Catering received more than $10 million in payment from these companies they purportedly served food to, and over $16 million in reimbursements from Feeding Our Future. Rather than feeding children during the pandemic, Nur misappropriated the funds for her own personal benefit, including the purchase of commercial real estate.
Nur was one of eight defendants charged in a 23-count indictment in September 2022. On Sept. 7, 2023, Nur pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. She was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy E. Brasel.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Brasel called the loss amount “staggering” and explained that “public trust in government programs has significantly decreased” as a result of the defendant’s fraud. Judge Brasel noted that it was “tragic” how the fraud scheme has damaged the reputation of Somali-American community.
Nur is not currently in custody after being conditionally released on bond following the sentencing hearing. Nur has been ordered to self-surrender for detention on July 22, 2025.
Feeding Our Future ringleader Aimee Bock and her co-conspirator Salim Said were found guilty by a jury in March on multiple counts including conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud, following a weeks-long trial. Both remain in custody and are awaiting sentencing.
New developments have unfolded in the weeks following the high-profile trial, including the revelation of a 2021 secret audio recording from a meeting between Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and some of the would-be defendants prior to the indictments becoming public. Ellison reportedly did not know the meeting was being recorded, wherein part of the discussion involved the eventual defendants complaining to Ellison about the state Departments of Education (MDE), Human Services (DHS), and Health (MDH), which were administrators of the funds being paid out to various FOF participants. Allegations of racism were raised by the FOF participants, and Ellison appeared to agree on tape that state agencies were engaging in racism against East African businesses.
In April, Ellison answered questions before the new Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee in the Minnesota House of Representatives about the 2021 meeting. Ellison defended his actions and claimed that he assisted in the federal investigation of the fraudsters. Committee Chair Kristin Robbins issued a statement following the hearing stating that unresolved questions remained about the timeline of Ellison’s awareness of the group’s criminal activity and whether he pressured state agencies to back down from raising concerns over their activities.
On Thursday of this week, MPR reported that the FOF investigation expanded with the search of a St. Paul non-profit, New Visions Foundation. Agents were seen removing computers and other items from the office on Vandalia St., according to MPR. A search warrant reportedly stated that the nonprofit ran two fraudulent meal distribution sites under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. There was no word of any new arrests during the raid.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
