Expert: Prosecutors may litigate Feeding Our Future fraud case like mob scheme

On Thursday, the Minnesota Legislative Auditor is set to release a report on the State Department of Education’s oversight of the Feeding Our Future program. An Education Department employee was the first to suspect and report fraud in the meal program to the FBI.

Five of the initial seven defendants in the widespread Feeding Our Future fraud scheme are awaiting sentencing after a jury found them guilty on Friday of charges including wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering, which could mean decades behind bars.

The verdict is the first of several to follow the sprawling federal investigation into the Twin Cities nonprofit that claimed to have fed millions of meals to children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The path to conviction was far from straightforward; the final days of the trial included an alleged bribery scheme that shook up the jury, an FBI raid, a surprise sequestering and early jailing of defendants.

Longtime St. Paul criminal defense attorney Jack Rice spoke to Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer on Monday, forecasting what the initial trial and verdicts could mean for the 45 remaining defendants and how severe sentencing could be for the initial convictions.

“They could look at up to 20 years on the most serious of the counts. It’s hard to tell at this point,” Rice said, inferring the judge would hold off on sentencing for the time being. “Because, think of this like the mob, if you will, in that what they’re going to try to do is squeeze people along the way to see if they can get more and more people to flip on other people… And I think they’re going to continue to try to do that until they go after… the big fish.”

To hear the full interview with Jack Rice click play on the player above.

Editor’s note: In the original airing, we mistakenly reported how the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor would release it Feeding Our Future findings. The findings will be presented to the Legislative Audit Commission on Thursday morning, and the audio above has been edited for accuracy.

• Minnesota hits a state rainfall record
• Morning Announcements for July 5
• With pro soccer calling, Minnesota Aurora works to keep its summer vibe alive