Patel touts FBI's dozens of convictions in $250 million Minnesota COVID scam
Kash Patel calls $250M pandemic nutrition program theft 'as shameless as it gets' with 70 indicted in Minnesota
 By Breanne Deppisch Fox News
Published July 18, 2025 5:34pm EDT

FIRST ON FOX: A $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded children's nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic has been described by FBI Director Kash Patel as "one of the worst" in Minnesota history.

The FBI director told Fox News in a statement that 70 people in Minnesota have been indicted for their role in the sprawling "Feeding our Future" fraud scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exploited a federal program designed to reimburse states for the cost of feeding children.

Conspirators falsely claimed to have served millions of meals during the pandemic, but instead used the money for personal gain. Of the individuals indicted, 38 have pleaded guilty, FBI officials told Fox News Digital. More than a dozen of the individuals are awaiting criminal trial, with the next trial beginning in August.

"Stealing over $250 million from hungry kids during a pandemic to fund mansions and luxury cars is as shameless as it gets," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. "I’m proud of the FBI and our partners for dismantling this web of corruption, holding dozens accountable, and sending a clear message: if you exploit the most vulnerable, we will find you and bring you to justice."

Conspirators charged in the scheme are accused of fabricating invoices, submitting fake attendance records, and falsely distributing thousands of meals from hundreds of so-called food distribution "sites" across the state — taking advantage of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's decision to waive, for the duration of the pandemic, many of its standard requirements for participation in the Federal Child Nutrition Program — including relaxing its requirement for non-school based distributors to participate in the program.

Charging documents show that roughly 300 "food sites" in the state served little or no food, with the so-called "food vendors" and organizations fabricated to launder money intended to reimburse the cost of feeding children.

FBI officials told Fox News that the investigation and resulting trials and indictments continue to impact the state, and have already touched off legislative reform in Minnesota.

They added that the investigation into the fraud remains ongoing, and that additional charges are expected, though they did not immediately share more details.

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/patel-touts-fbis-dozens-convictions-250-million-minnesota-covid-scam

The landscape around Jasper is about as beautiful and pristine as it gets. I'm glad I can't get up there anymore - I would probably weep

Still lots of beautiful areas there that are untouched ... Jasper National Park is huge!

Remember those city-owned and operated grocery stores Zorro has promised? It seems it's actually been tried (and, of course, failed). It's funny how communism never actually delivers.


https://twitter.com/scottlincicome/status/1946238974227357771

Story at Washington Post

Oh I think it is exceedingly unlikely too, but don't piss in my pocket and tell me it's raining.

If that happens, it shan’t be me (my uncle always said shan’t).

How many layers of Government does it take to do nothing?