DOJ charges 47 with stealing $250 million from a pandemic food program for kids

The Justice Department has unveiled criminal charges against 47 defendants who cheated the government out of $250 million that were supposed to be used to feed needy kids in Minnesota during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DOJ said indictments allege “the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme charged to date.”

The indictments announced Tuesday involve six groups, all connected to the group Feeding Our Future, a Minnesota nonprofit. The defendants are charged with federal crimes, including conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and paying and receiving illegal kickbacks.