Federal prosecutors say the Feeding Our Future fraud case is the biggest pandemic-era fraud in the country, with 70 defendants allegedly stealing a total of $250 million through Minnesota nonprofits.
Defendants are accused of spending the money on vacations, homes, fancy cars and a beach resort in Kenya, among other items.
The case involved the Minnesota Department of Education distributing federal money meant to feed underserved children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department gave the money to the sponsor organizations Feeding Our Future and Partners in Quality Care, which distributed it further to food vendors and food sites that were supposed to serve ready-to-eat meals.
Some organizations allegedly reported serving more meals than they actually did in order to receive more federal money. Some never served any meals at all.
Four defendants, including Feeding Our Future’s former executive director Aimee Bock, are scheduled to be jointly tried in the case starting February 3, 2025. The trial is expected to last a month.
The first trial in the case began April 22, 2024, and ended June 7 with the conviction of five defendants and acquittal of two others. The trial was disrupted by a shocking allegation of jury tampering, which led to additional charges.
On top of the five convictions, 22 defendants have pleaded guilty in the case.
Read the latest stories on the Feeding Our Future case.
LATEST NEWS
Last suspect pleads guilty for bribing juror with $120K in Feeding Our Future trial
Feeding Our Future defendant Abdiaziz Farah pleads guilty in juror bribery attempt
Feds charge Apple Valley woman in Feeding Our Future fraud
JURY BRIBERY CASE
INVESTIGATION ON MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S OVERSIGHT
Congress wants to know how Tim Walz handled the Feeding Our Future fraud. What was his responsibility?
Report: Minnesota Department of Education was ‘ill-prepared,’ created opportunities for fraud in Feeding Our Future case
Five takeaways from a report on the state’s oversight of Feeding Our Future
Stay updated on the latest news.
Sign up for Sahan Journal’s free weekly newsletters.
