Aimee Bock,
41, founder of non-profit group Feeding Our Future, is among 47 people charged
for defrauding the United States government by siphoning off nearly $250
million
from a child nutrition programme. The programme was funded by the US
Department of Agriculture when the coronavirus pandemic was at its peak.
Federal prosecutors have alleged that fake meals were enlisted and inflated
invoices released to siphon off government funds.

Also Read | Food fraud: $250 million stolen from children’s scheme in US, 47 charged

Here are 3
things you need to know about Aimee Bock:

1.       Started out as a teacher

Aimee Bock
studied elementary education at the University of Minnesota. She subsequently
went on to become a substitute teacher. She subsequently went on to join a
day-care centre at Burnsville, Minnesota. Within four years, Bock went from
being an infant teacher to a director. Aimee Bock’s LinkedIn page says she has
worked for a variety of non-profit groups.

Also Read | What is Feeding Our Future, Aimee Bock’s now-defunct non-profit?

2.       Aimee Bock’s organisation was
supposed to supervise funds

Feeding Our
Future, the organisation founded by Aimee Bock, was supposed to supervise
government funds flowing in to feed children during the coronavirus pandemic.
However, after the fraud came to light, federal prosecutors said that Bock and
others used the money to enrich themselves instead of feeding children.

Also Read | Who is Aimee Bock?

3.       Accused of creating shell
corporations

The accused
in the food fraud case, including Aimee Bock, are alleged to have created shell
corporations to siphon off government funds. Bock’s organisation, Feeding Our
Future, recruited federal child nutrition programme sites throughout Minnesota.
“These sites, created and operated by the defendants and others fraudulently
claimed to be serving meals to thousands of children within just days or weeks
of being formed,” a federal release said.

Also Read | How Aimee Bock and 46 others allegedly siphoned funds from child food scheme

The release
also goes on to say that the defendants created “dozens of shell companies to
enrol in the programme,” and to receive and launder the proceeds of their
fraudulent scheme.