Rep. Patti Anderson stated that there is no excuse for the failures of Feeding Our Future (FOF) other than incompetence or willful neglect. Despite FOF’s inability to provide a satisfactory plan for feeding hungry children, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) approved their applications and budget amendments totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. A report from the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) highlighted the “actions and inactions” of MDE that led to opportunities for fraud.
The U.S. Department of Justice charged 70 individuals in connection with FOF’s alleged scheme, which cost taxpayers $250 million. The report revealed that FOF employees had misused funds meant for meals and snacks for low-income students. The lack of oversight by MDE allowed for fraudulent activities to occur.
The report detailed instances where vouchers for more meals than served were approved, attendance records were falsified, and fake invoices were submitted. FOF employees allegedly created shell companies to misuse funds and engaged in unethical practices.
Despite the clear signs of misconduct, MDE failed to take appropriate action and often approved FOF’s applications without revisions. The report also highlighted the department’s inadequate response to complaints about FOF’s activities.
State legislators expressed shock at MDE’s inaction, with Rep. Patti Anderson condemning their negligence and calling the situation “awful.” The Legislative Auditor stated that while there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing by MDE, they were ill-prepared to handle the situation.
The OLA report recommended better oversight practices for MDE but did not call for sanctions against the department or its employees. Jett II acknowledged the need for improvement in his agency’s oversight practices but did not accept responsibility for the shortcomings in the Feeding Our Future case.
In a letter to the Office of the Legislative Auditor, Mr. Jett described the situation as a travesty and condemned the fraudulent actions of those involved. He stated that the indicted individuals were solely responsible for the flagrant fraud.
Following the release of the report, five out of seven former FOF employees or associates were convicted of various charges related to conspiracy, money laundering, and wire fraud. The FBI is investigating an attempt to bribe a juror during the court proceedings.
Abdiaziz Farah, one of the key players in the scheme, was convicted on multiple counts, along with four other defendants. A total of 18 individuals had pleaded guilty to charges related to the case before the recent verdicts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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