The nonprofit founder and restaurant owner stole federal funds using a network of fraudulent dietary distribution sites across Minnesota.
A federal ju judge in Minnesota has convicted two individuals of organizing a scheme to steal $250 million from a federal program aimed at feeding children in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ju umpire on Tuesday heard debates about feeding our future founder, Amy Bock. Former restaurant owner Salim said prosecutors have called it one of the biggest fraud cases targeting the pandemic relief program. On Wednesday, they returned convictions on all charges.
The two were charged with multiple criminal counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery. He also said he was charged with multiple counts of money laundering.
The case focuses on the abuse of the Federal Children’s Nutrition Program, a USDA initiative in the late 1960s, providing meals to children in low-income families during times such as after school or summer holidays.
When the Covid lockdown forced schools and childcare centres to close, the USDA waived some of the standard requirements for participation in the federal child nutrition program. Among other things, this change has enabled the distribution of meals outside of the traditional educational environment, but now commercial restaurants can participate as long as there are non-profit organizations sponsored by them.
Prosecutors said he said Bock and used these relaxed regulations to create a network of over 250 fraudulent dietary distribution sites across Minnesota.
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Prosecutors falsely claimed that from April 2020 to April 2021 to November 2021, our future provided 91 million meals and raised almost $250 million in federal rebates.
To support their unfair claims, Bock and stated a manufactured attendance record listing the names and ages of thousands of children who have never actually received a meal. Prosecutors said the two also created dozens of shell companies to register as food program sites, using them to wash stolen funds.
Prosecutors said the pair spent federal funds on their conspirators and then made personal purchases of luxury cars, homes, international travel and overseas property.
Bock is among the 70 individuals charged in connection with the scheme. More than 30 people pleaded guilty and five others were convicted.
The case attracted attention last summer when five defendants were arrested last summer for trying to bribe the ju judges with desperate efforts to shake up the verdict.
As part of their plan, they drafted written instructions directing her to vote innocent to all counts of all defendants, and to persuade the remaining ju-describers to do the same. They also compiled a list of issues aimed at persuading the Ju judge. Many focused on framed prosecutors as motivations for racism.
The night before the closing discussion ended, one of the conspirators arrived at the ju-secretary’s house and delivered a bag containing $120,000 in cash. Ju-search immediately called the police.
