U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Andy Luger announced today that the Department of Justice has indicted 47 people connected to Feeding Our Future, including founder and executive director Aimee Bock, in what federal prosecutors say was a “massive scheme” to defraud the federal government of more than $250 million that was supposed to feed hungry children during the COVID-19 pandemic but instead was diverted to personal use, including luxury items. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued the following statement:
I congratulate the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney Andy Luger on this criminal indictment. The scope of the fraud the government alleges is breathtaking and immoral. The federal government has original criminal jurisdiction over this matter and because the alleged fraud involves federal funds, it is right and appropriate for the federal prosecutors to bring criminal charges. I applaud them for doing so.
As the chief regulator of charities in Minnesota, my civil investigation into whether Feeding Our Future broke any of Minnesota’s nonprofit or charities laws continues. I am also continuing to keep a close eye on the dissolution of Feeding Our Future, which is proceeding under court supervision after I asked the court to supervise it. I am also proud of the work of my office in representing the Minnesota Department of Education when it tried to stop payment to Feeding Our Future in court and subsequently first alerted the federal government to the fraud, which led to today’s indictments.
I will hold bad actors accountable everywhere, no matter who they are or how well connected they may be.