Summary
A Minnesota judge alerted the state’s Department of Education about the issues arising from halting payments to Feeding Our Future, an organization involved in a major fraud scheme. This fraud scheme resulted in charges for 78 individuals who allegedly misused over $240 million intended for child nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Facts
- A judge told Minnesota's Department of Education it had a problem after suspending payments to Feeding Our Future.
- The organization and 78 individuals are involved in a large fraud scheme, defrauding over $240 million.
- Feeding Our Future filed a motion for payments to resume in 2021, which was later denied because payments had already been reinstated voluntarily.
- The fraud is the largest COVID-19 related fraud scheme identified in the U.S. so far.
- Feeding Our Future falsely claimed to provide meals to thousands of children during the pandemic.
- The judge did not order nor force the resumption of payments; the department voluntarily continued them.
- Over three dozen people have pleaded guilty, and multiple individuals, including the executive director, were found guilty at trial.
- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz commented on the responsibility, emphasizing accountability for jailing those involved in the scheme.
