A federal judge sentenced Aimee Bock, founder of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, to more than 41 years in prison Thursday for her role in what prosecutors described as the largest pandemic fraud scheme in the United States.

Bock was convicted as the ringleader of a $250 million fraud operation that exploited federal child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minnesota-based nonprofit claimed to provide millions of meals to children through the federal programs.

The sentencing concludes a major federal prosecution targeting the misuse of pandemic relief funds. Feeding Our Future operated as a sponsor for the Federal Child Nutrition Program, which reimburses organizations for feeding children in need.

Prosecutors alleged that Bock and her co-conspirators diverted funds intended for child nutrition programs for personal use rather than feeding children as claimed. The scheme involved submitting fraudulent claims for reimbursement under federal programs designed to ensure food security for vulnerable children during the pandemic.

The case represents one of the most significant prosecutions related to pandemic relief fraud, highlighting vulnerabilities in emergency funding programs established during COVID-19. Federal authorities have pursued numerous cases involving the misuse of pandemic assistance funds across various programs nationwide.