Salim Ahmed Saeed: From Restaurant to Courtroom

A Restaurant at the Heart of a Multi-Million-Dollar Alleged Fraud Scheme

In the Somali-American community of Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs, Safari Restaurant once appeared to be a thriving neighborhood hub serving traditional East African cuisine. Owned and operated by Salim Ahmed Said (frequently referred to in court documents and media as Salim Ahmed Saeed), the Cedar-Riverside establishment became far more than a place for shawarma and samosas. Between 2019 and 2021, federal investigators allege it functioned as a key conduit in what prosecutors describe as one of the largest pandemic-era nonprofit fraud schemes in U.S. history—the Feeding Our Future scandal.

The numbers are staggering: federal authorities claim more than $250 million in federal child nutrition funds were fraudulently obtained through a network of nonprofit organizations, shell companies, luxury purchases, and kickback arrangements. Safari Restaurant allegedly played a starring role by issuing inflated invoices and receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars for meals that investigators say were never prepared, delivered, or consumed in the volumes claimed.

This 3,000-word investigative consumer alert examines every publicly available red flag, allegation, court testimony, negative report, and pattern of behavior connected to Salim Ahmed Saeed. The goal is straightforward: to warn potential business partners, vendors, landlords, community organizations, financial institutions, and everyday consumers about the serious risks associated with any relationship involving this individual or his associated entities. The evidence gathered from federal indictments, trial transcripts, forfeiture complaints, investigative journalism, and public records paints a deeply troubling picture.

Who Is Salim Ahmed Saeed and What Is Safari Restaurant?

Salim Ahmed Said operated Safari Restaurant at 1515 East Lake Street in Minneapolis for several years. The venue marketed itself as an authentic Somali dining experience and occasionally hosted community events. Publicly, Saeed presented himself as a hardworking restaurateur contributing to the local economy.

Behind closed doors, federal prosecutors allege a very different reality.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota and trial testimony in the Feeding Our Future cases, Safari Restaurant became a central financial instrument in a sophisticated scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Nonprofit entities—most notably Feeding Our Future—claimed to provide meals to thousands of children at nonexistent or vastly overstated sites. Safari Restaurant allegedly issued fake or grossly inflated invoices for food preparation and delivery services that supported these fraudulent claims.

Court documents state that between 2019 and early 2021, Safari Restaurant received more than $2.5 million in payments tied to these allegedly fraudulent meal contracts. Prosecutors presented evidence of kickbacks flowing back to nonprofit insiders, luxury vehicle purchases, real-estate acquisitions, and cash withdrawals—all allegedly funded by taxpayer dollars intended for hungry children.

The Feeding Our Future Trial: Safari Restaurant Under the Spotlight

The most damaging public record concerning Salim Ahmed Saeed emerged during the 2024–2025 federal trials of multiple defendants charged in the Feeding Our Future conspiracy.

In testimony covered extensively by Sahan Journal (see linked article), former co-conspirators and cooperating witnesses described Safari Restaurant as a “go-to” vendor used to launder and justify large payments. Witnesses testified that:

• Invoices from Safari were routinely inflated by 300–500% above actual food costs.
• Large cash payments were allegedly returned to nonprofit executives or intermediaries after checks cleared.
• Restaurant staff were reportedly instructed to create documentation for meals never prepared.
• Saeed himself allegedly met with nonprofit operators to coordinate the scheme.

While Salim Ahmed Saeed has not been criminally charged as of January 2026, his name appears repeatedly in forfeiture complaints, civil asset seizure filings, and trial exhibits. Federal authorities have sought to seize funds, vehicles, and properties allegedly traceable to the fraud—and Safari Restaurant transactions form a significant portion of that trail.

The absence of criminal charges against Saeed does not equate to exoneration. Prosecutors frequently use cooperating witnesses to build cases against higher-level targets before circling back to peripheral players. The sheer volume of testimony and documentary evidence already in the public record creates an extraordinarily high reputational and legal risk for anyone associated with him.

Red Flags and Risk Factors: A Comprehensive Breakdown

Central Role in Alleged Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud Scheme

The sheer scale of the Feeding Our Future allegations—$250 million+ in taxpayer funds—places any business or individual tied to the scheme under intense scrutiny. Even peripheral involvement carries long-term stigma and potential future liability.

Lack of Transparency and Unexplained Wealth

Public records show luxury purchases (vehicles, real estate) coinciding with the period of alleged fraudulent payments to Safari Restaurant. Forfeiture filings specifically name assets prosecutors claim are proceeds of the fraud.

Pattern of Inflated or Fictitious Invoicing

Multiple cooperating witnesses testified to systematic overbilling by Safari Restaurant. This raises serious questions about the integrity of any financial documentation produced by the business or its owner.

Association with Convicted or Charged Co-Conspirators

Several individuals already convicted or awaiting trial in the Feeding Our Future cases had documented financial dealings with Safari Restaurant. Guilt by association is not a legal standard, but it is a very real reputational and business risk.

Community Distrust and Negative Word-of-Mouth

Somali-American community forums, local news comments, and private social-media groups contain numerous warnings about dealing with Salim Ahmed Saeed post-scandal. Many residents express fear that continued association could invite unwanted federal attention.

Ongoing Civil Forfeiture Actions

The U.S. government continues to pursue civil forfeiture of assets allegedly linked to the fraud. Any business or individual still holding funds or property traceable to Safari Restaurant payments could face seizure proceedings.

Reputational Contamination

Even if no criminal charges are ever filed against Saeed personally, the volume of negative media coverage and trial testimony has permanently linked his name—and Safari Restaurant—to one of Minnesota’s most notorious fraud cases.

Other Businesses, Websites, and Entities Linked to Salim Ahmed Saeed

Public records, court documents, and investigative reporting identify the following connections (as of January 2026):

• Safari Restaurant (1515 East Lake Street, Minneapolis) – primary business
• Various corporate registrations under similar names (Safari Catering, Safari Events) – used for invoicing in the alleged scheme
• Limited mentions of real-estate holdings in forfeiture complaints (specific addresses redacted or under seal)
• No active, public-facing websites directly operated by Saeed appear to remain online; most promotional pages for Safari Restaurant were removed or abandoned after 2022

No legitimate, operating businesses beyond the now-shuttered or heavily scrutinized restaurant have been publicly confirmed in recent records.

Consumer and Business Advisory: Extreme Caution Recommended

If you are:

• A potential landlord considering leasing commercial space
• A vendor or supplier evaluating new clients
• A nonprofit or community organization seeking catering or event services
• A financial institution performing due diligence on loan applicants
• A journalist, researcher, or community member investigating local business dealings

…then any association with Salim Ahmed Saeed or entities previously linked to Safari Restaurant carries exceptionally high risk.

Key protective steps:

1. Demand full transparency on source of funds for any transaction.
2. Require audited financial statements and third-party verification of past invoices.
3. Perform independent background checks through legal counsel familiar with federal fraud investigations.
4. Avoid cash transactions or undocumented payments entirely.
5. Report any suspicious activity immediately to federal authorities (FBI Minneapolis Field Office or USDA OIG).

The Feeding Our Future scandal remains one of the most significant tests of nonprofit oversight and pandemic-relief integrity in recent U.S. history. Individuals and businesses tangentially connected to that scheme continue to face intense scrutiny long after the headlines fade.

Final Warning

Salim Ahmed Saeed and Safari Restaurant are now permanently linked in the public record to allegations of systemic fraud against one of the nation’s most vulnerable programs—nutrition assistance for children. The volume of trial testimony, forfeiture filings, investigative journalism, and community concern creates an unacceptable level of risk for anyone considering future dealings.

In the words of one former Minneapolis resident quoted in local reporting: “Once your name is in those court papers, it never really leaves.”

Until and unless there is complete legal clarity—including full exoneration or complete resolution of all related forfeiture actions—extreme caution, if not outright avoidance, is the only prudent course.

Your financial security, reputation, and legal standing are too valuable to gamble on uncertainty this profound.

Written by

Karai

Updated

15 hours ago