A federal jury in Minneapolis convicted five individuals accused of embezzling millions from government programs aimed at feeding hungry children during the pandemic. The trial involved charges including wire fraud, federal programs bribery, and money laundering, leading to sentences of up to 20 years in prison for some. Prosecutors described it as one of the largest fraud cases overseen by the Department of Justice recently.
The accused individuals were affiliated with a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future, which prosecutors said played a role in stealing over $40 million meant for feeding hungry children. The scheme took advantage of loosened government oversight during the pandemic, allowing funds to be collected without serving meals as claimed.
The trial faced a dramatic turn when a juror was found to have been given a bribe attempt in a gift bag worth $120,000 seeking acquittals for some accused individuals. The juror was dismissed, and another juror was replaced after learning about the bribe. The case highlighted corruption attempts to influence the trial's outcome.
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