Feeding our Future was a non-profit organization based in Minnesota.
In 2022, 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.[1][2] 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.[3][2]
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.[4][5][6] 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.[7] 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.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Feeding Our Future, Attorney General Race, Opioid Crisis". Twin Cities PBS. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
- ^ a b Montemayor, Stephen; Meitrodt, Jeffrey. "Feeding Our Future founder among 48 people charged in $250 million federal food aid fraud scheme". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
- ^ "U.S. Attorney Announces Federal Charges Against 47 Defendants in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme". U.S. Department of Justice. 2022-09-20. Archived from the original on 2022-10-18. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
- ^ Fahrenthold, David A.; Londoño, Ernesto (2024-06-03). "A Mazda, a Gift Bag of $120,000 and a Dismissed Juror". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
- ^ "Fraud trial juror reports getting bag of $120,000 and promise of more if she'll acquit". AP News. 2024-06-03. Archived from the original on 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
- ^ a b Montemayor, Stephen; Smith, Kelly (26 June 2024). "New charges: Feeding Our Future juror was followed for days, given list of instructions with $120k in cash to acquit". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
- ^ Smith, Kelly (7 June 2024). "Jury finds five of seven defendants guilty in Feeding Our Future trial". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2024-06-08.