Feeding Our Future
Feeding Our Future was a non-profit organization based in Minnesota. It claimed to distribute many thousands of meals to schoolchildren during the covid-19 pandemic, but allegedly stole hundreds of millions of dollars while providing few or no meals at most of its locations. As of 2024, out of 70 suspects indicted in the fraud, 23 have plead guilty and five have been found guilty at trial, while many others await trial.[1]
History
[edit]The organization was founded in 2016, and repeatedly applied for grants from the state of Minnesota, but was rejected due to allegations of mismanagement and abuses.[1] The organization's tax status as a nonprofit was revoked by the IRS in February of 2020.[1] After the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and a large increase in the amount of federal aid available, Feeding Our Future applied to receive funding to provide meals to schoolchildren, as schools were closed. Although the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) knew of issues with Feeding Our Future, it began giving the organization substantial grants after Feeding Our Future threatened legal action against the state.[1][2] Ultimately, after MDE began delaying responses to Feeding Our Future's grant applications, the organization sued the state in November 2020, arguing that it was being discriminated against. Around the same time, the MDE raised concerns of fraud with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the FBI began investigating in February of 2021.[1][2]
Meanwhile, in December 2020, MDE denied Feeding Our Future's ongoing grant applications and labeled the organization "severely deficient", leading to an attempt by MDE to terminate the partnership fully.[1][2][3] Feeding our Future sued the state in response. Minnesota judge John Guthmann found in the spring of 2021 that there was no legal basis for stopping payments, and informed MDE that there could be a "real problem" if it did not resume processing Feeding Our Future's grant applications, although he did not formally order MDE to resume giving grants.[1][3] Several months later, Guthmann held MDE in contempt of court for processing grant applications slowly and ordered the state agency to pay a fine of $47,500 to Feeding Our Future.[1][3]
Federal charges and legal consequences
[edit]In January of 2022, the FBI raided a number of Feeding Our Future "meal" locations and the nonprofit was disestablished shortly thereafter.[1] That fall, members of the organization were accused of defrauding the state's USDA-funded school nutrition programs of at least $250 million over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, led by the organization's president, Aimee Bock.[4][5] On September 20, 2022, the U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced federal charges against 47 former Feeding Our Future employees for their involvement in the nation's largest pandemic-related fraud scheme.[5][6] The number of indicted individuals eventually reached 70.[1][7]
In the spring of 2024, a group of seven individuals were the first to go to trial. Near the end of the trial, an attempt was made to bribe a juror in the case to vote to acquit with $120,000 in cash.[8][9][10] The juror reported the incident and was dismissed to avoid the appearance of impropriety, along with another who heard about the incident from a relative. The jury was sequestered for the remainder of the trial. Of the first seven defendants, five were convicted on most charges against them, while two were acquitted.[11] Several weeks later, five individuals, including three of the defendants from the first trial, were indicted on charges related to the bribery. One of those indicted for bribery had been acquitted of fraud during the trial.[10]
In July 2024, Abdimajid Nur, one of those convicted in June in the scheme, pleaded guilty to one count of bribing a juror.[12] By October 2024, out of 70 suspects indicted in the fraud, 23 had plead guilty and five had been found guilty at trial, while many others awaited trial.[1] Although more than $250 million is alleged to have been stolen, only around $50 million has been recovered as of October 2024, as much of the money ended up in overseas investments which the United States cannot seize.[1]
A federal court handed down the first sentence on October 15, 2024. Mohamed Ismail received a 12 year sentence; two of the three counts involved conspiracy. He was ordered to pay more than $47 million in restitution.[13] A trial is scheduled in February 2025 for Aimee Bock, the alleged ringleader of the scheme, and eleven other defendants.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Derosier, Alex (October 20, 2024). "Feeding Our Future fraud led to new grant controls, little progress recovering stolen money". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c Smith, Kelly (June 13, 2024). "Report: Minnesota Department of Education's 'inadequate oversight' of Feeding Our Future opened door to fraud". Minnesota Star Tribune. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c Smith, Kelly (September 24, 2022). "Feeding Our Future charges lead to dispute over 2021 case". Minnesota Star Tribune. Archived from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Almanac (September 23, 2022). "Feeding our Future, Attorney General race, opioid crisis". KTCA-TV (Weekly news and public affairs broadcast). Vol. 2023, Episode 4. Twin Cities PBS.
- ^ a b Montemayor, Stephen; Meitrodt, Jeffrey (September 21, 2022). "Feeding Our Future founder among 48 people charged in $250 million federal food aid fraud scheme". Minnesota Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Attorney Announces Federal Charges Against 47 Defendants in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme" (Press release). U.S. Department of Justice. September 20, 2022. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
- ^ a b Sepic, Matt (October 16, 2024). "Judge warns ex-Feeding Our Future boss to follow release rules". MPR News. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Fahrenthold, David A.; Londoño, Ernesto (June 3, 2024). "A Mazda, a Gift Bag of $120,000 and a Dismissed Juror". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ "Fraud trial juror reports getting bag of $120,000 and promise of more if she'll acquit". Associated Press. June 3, 2024. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Montemayor, Stephen; Smith, Kelly (June 26, 2024). "New charges: Feeding Our Future juror was followed for days, given list of instructions with $120k in cash to acquit". Minnesota Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Smith, Kelly (June 7, 2024). "Jury finds five of seven defendants guilty in Feeding Our Future trial". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Peters, Joey (July 24, 2024). "Feeding Our Future defendant pleads guilty in attempt to bribe juror with $120,000". Sahan Journal. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Sepic, Matt (October 15, 2024). "First Feeding Our Future defendant sentenced gets 12 years". MPR News. Archived from the original on November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.