Thursday February 20, 2025

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A federal judge overseeing the ongoing Feeding Our Future fraud trial has imposed stricter courtroom restrictions after allegations surfaced that a defendant’s associate attempted to influence a key witness’s testimony.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel ruled Wednesday that any defendants in related cases who are not currently on trial will be barred from entering the courtroom or even being on the same floor as the proceedings. The ruling follows an alleged attempt to tamper with government witness Sharmake Jama, a cooperating defendant who previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.

On Tuesday, Jama testified that while waiting outside the courtroom, he was approached by a man he recognized but did not know personally. The man, later identified by prosecutors as a relative of defendant Salim Said, allegedly asked Jama to step into a courthouse bathroom to talk.

“He just said, ‘Can we talk in the bathroom?'” Jama recounted on the witness stand. “He was slurring his speech, but I could hear him saying, ‘Let’s talk.'”

Jama declined and immediately informed his attorney, who reported the incident to the court. Judge Brasel subsequently ordered the U.S. Marshals to investigate the matter and imposed tighter restrictions on courtroom attendance.

Trial Focuses on Massive Fraud Scheme

The Feeding Our Future scandal revolves around a $250 million fraud scheme in which defendants allegedly exploited federal child nutrition program funds meant to provide meals for low-income children. Prosecutors argue that defendants—including Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock and Safari Restaurant co-owner Salim Said—fabricated meal counts, created shell companies, and funnelled millions of dollars into personal purchases.

Jama pleaded guilty in January and testified that he and his family falsely reported serving thousands of meals per day at their Brava Restaurant in Rochester. Prosecutors revealed that Brava claimed over $5.6 million in federal reimbursements, money Jama admitted was spent on multiple properties, vehicles, and an overseas estate in Turkey.

FBI Special Agent Travis Wilmer provided key evidence detailing how fraudulent invoices were submitted for reimbursement. In one instance, Jama’s meal site claimed to have purchased 12,000 gallons of milk in a single month—totalling $56,000—despite having no capacity to store such a quantity.

Further testimony from witnesses in Willmar, where another fraudulent meal site was operated, contradicted claims of mass food distribution. Amal Muse, a former community service officer for the Willmar Police Department, said she never saw the supposed lines of children waiting for meals.

“If thousands of children were really receiving meals there daily, it would have been noticeable,” Muse said. “I never saw anything remotely close to that.”

Another witness, Becky Christianson, who worked near the Willmar site, testified that despite walking past the restaurant multiple times a day, she never observed any distribution of meals.

Past Jury Tampering Incident Raises Concerns

Concerns over courtroom integrity have heightened due to past tampering attempts. In a previous trial involving Feeding Our Future, prosecutors say a defendant attempted to bribe a juror by dropping off a bag containing $120,000 in cash at their residence. The juror immediately reported the attempt, leading to further charges.

Ladan Ali, a key figure in the Feeding Our Future fraud case, is facing additional legal trouble after being arrested for drunken driving on Feb. 14 in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Court records show that Ali, 32, rear-ended another vehicle, fled the scene, and was later found stopped in the middle of Highway 62. A breathalyzer test revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .284—more than three times the legal limit. Officers reported that Ali became combative, removing her handcuffs twice and striking the vehicle divider inside the squad car.

Ali previously pleaded guilty to jury bribery, admitting to attempting to influence the Feeding Our Future trial by offering a juror’s relative a Hallmark gift bag filled with $120,000 in cash. A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for March 5 to determine whether her pretrial release should be revoked due to her latest arrest. She has posted a $12,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Hennepin County court next week on the DWI charges.

Judge Brasel referenced this history in her ruling: “Here we find ourselves again with people trying to corrupt our process. Something is going on, and we have to stop it.”

The trial is expected to continue through February, with more witnesses set to testify about the alleged fraudulent activities and misuse of federal funds. Prosecutors aim to prove that Bock, Said, and other defendants orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to divert millions from the Child Nutrition Program.

With security now tightened and stricter courtroom rules in place, federal authorities are taking no chances to ensure the legal proceedings’ integrity.