APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — An Apple Valley woman apparently was the heart of a scheme that bilked the government out of $250 million by claiming falsely that its agents provided thousands of meals to needy people.  Aimee Bock, 41, founded an organization, Feeding Our Future, in 2018 to receive grants funded by the U.S.  Child and Adult Care Food Program. The federal funds were issued to  the state Education Department, which then contracted with Bock’s Feeding Our Future organization to arrange for commercial kitchens around the state, mostly restaurants, to prepare and deliver meals. These suppliers were reimbursed by Feeding Our Future. When the CoVid erupted in 2020, the organization was well equipped to process millions of new federal dollars that were suddenly available to deal with hunger during the CoVid crisis. For months, government and state controls on funds were relaxed to speed meals to people in need. In the crisis Bock’s background situated her and Founding Our Future to expand.

Bock profile

Her employment record includes many interfaces between government programs and private agencies:

. Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children and Minnesota School-Age Care Alliance: Education management accreditation coordinator.

> Partners in Nutrition: Operations director childhood schooling.

> Knowledge Universe: Teacher and later director for early childhood programs.

> Early Childhood Family Foundation: Board member.

>Public schools: A variety pf teaching and other positions in Burnsville, Duluth and Hayfield.

Bock holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration. She  has a bachelor’s degree from University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Earlier: Arrests in massive food raid upped to 48

Bock. Among 48 people indicted in the largest CoVid-related fraud case in the nation.

Bock’s early denial

Law enforcement agents searched Bock’s home and offices in January. In an interview at the time she denied stealing money and said she never saw evidence of fraud. Bock’s attorney now, Kenneth Ubong Udoibok, who has an independent practice in Minneapolis, said her indictment “doesn’t indicate guilt or innocence.” Udoibok declined comment further, saying he hadn’t yet seen the indicting document. Udoibok’s practice focuses on employment issues, police brutality and civil rights.

Udoibok. Named among 29 Attorneys of the Year in 2017 by the magazine Minnesota Lawyer.