As we learn more and more about the infamous $250 million "Feeding our Future" fraud scheme in Minnesota, the worse it gets. However, the fraudsters are being held accountable. On Saturday, FBI Director Kash Patel, speaking with Fox News, indicated that no fewer than 70 suspects are under indictment in this massive rip-off.
A $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded children's nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic has been described by FBI Director Kash Patel as "one of the worst" in Minnesota history.
The FBI director told Fox News in a statement that 70 people in Minnesota have been indicted for their role in the sprawling "Feeding our Future" fraud scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exploited a federal program designed to reimburse states for the cost of feeding children.
Conspirators falsely claimed to have served millions of meals during the pandemic, but instead used the money for personal gain. Of the individuals indicted, 38 have pleaded guilty, FBI officials told Fox News Digital. More than a dozen of the individuals are awaiting criminal trial, with the next trial beginning in August.
So, millions of taxpayer funds were spent on expensive houses and fancy cars, rather than on feeding kids. That's what the 70 (so far) are accused of. Director Patel made some very pointed remarks to that effect:
"Stealing over $250 million from hungry kids during a pandemic to fund mansions and luxury cars is as shameless as it gets," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. "I’m proud of the FBI and our partners for dismantling this web of corruption, holding dozens accountable, and sending a clear message: if you exploit the most vulnerable, we will find you and bring you to justice."
There have been murmurings that knowledge of the scam may reach very high in the government of the state of Minnesota:
Read More: New: Feds Now Looking at 'Feeding Our Future' Org. for Possible Fraud - Is MN Gov. Walz Implicated?
There's all kinds of room for criticism for how all levels of government reacted to the COVID scheme, including a great deal of reckless spending. That is not what this is about. This case is about knowingly and deliberately diverting taxpayer funds for personal purposes - fraud - and it's even worse that those funds were intended to feed kids whose families, for whatever reason, took a financial hit during the COVID scare.
Conspirators charged in the scheme are accused of fabricating invoices, submitting fake attendance records, and falsely distributing thousands of meals from hundreds of so-called food distribution "sites" across the state — taking advantage of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's decision to waive, for the duration of the pandemic, many of its standard requirements for participation in the Federal Child Nutrition Program — including relaxing its requirement for non-school based distributors to participate in the program.
Charging documents show that roughly 300 "food sites" in the state served little or no food, with the so-called "food vendors" and organizations fabricated to launder money intended to reimburse the cost of feeding children.
In June, five Minnesota residents were convicted on multiple charges in this scam. Further trials are scheduled to start in August. In the June trial, the jury was sequestered after a jury member reportedly had a paper bag containing $120,000 in cash dropped off at her home, in what was described as an attempted bribe.
The August trials should be interesting indeed.
Stay tuned. We'll be bringing you more news on this case as events unfold.
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