In free lunch fraud, civil forfeiture sought

[Valin]

Power Line

Scott Johnson

Feb. 18 2022

No charges have been brought (sealed or unsealed) and no arrests have been made in the massive free lunch fraud that exploded into the local news last month. In previous posts, I embedded copies of the three search warrants whose unsealing made the story public. Based on the warrants, I infer the charges will come.

The search warrants also established the existence of assets — “real estate, cars, and other luxury items” — that can be seized and liquidated to mitigate the fraud. The government cannot let it ride. Indeed, the FBI seized certain of Feeding Our Future principal Aimee Bock’s assets in the course of its January 20 search of her residence. According to her attorney, Bock has been advised that she is a target of the investigation, but she denies wrongdoing and seems to say that she’s a victim of racism (all the other possible fraudsters appear to be Somali).

(Snip)

Having reviewed the complaint, Joey Peters noted allegations involving Abdi Nur Salah, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s senior policy aide. When Peters called to ask about it on behalf of Sahan Journal — story here — he got results:

Quote

Sahan Journal called a spokesperson for Frey at 1 p.m. on Thursday to ask about the allegations against the mayor’s senior policy aide. At 5 p.m, the spokesperson emailed Sahan Journal with a statement: “Abdi Salah is no longer an employee of Mayor Frey’s office. His last date of employment was today.”

The Star Tribune obscures the obvious cause and effect in “Former aide to Minneapolis Mayor Frey named in forfeiture lawsuit over alleged fraud in meals program.” Salah told the Star Tribune he was moving on because he is taking paternity leave. Maybe he is, but readers who rely on the Star Tribune story aren’t given much of a chance to make up their own mind about what’s going down. Peter’s story fills out the picture.

The Center of the American Experiment’s Bill Glahn reviewed the story to date in his February 17 post “The alleged Feeding Our Future scandal, four weeks in.” More to come.

(Snip)

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More Here

[Valin]

Minnesota nonprofit to dissolve following FBI raid

The FBI raided over a dozen properties connected to Feeding our Future Jan. 20.

Alpha News Staff

February 25, 2022

A Minnesota nonprofit that was raided by the FBI last month announced Friday that it is dissolving, blaming “negative media reports.”

The FBI raided over a dozen properties connected to Feeding our Future Jan. 20. An FBI search warrant accused the “conspirators” of stealing “millions of dollars in federal funds” from child nutrition programs, but the nonprofit has denied any wrongdoing and nobody has been charged with a crime to date.

“In recent years, individuals and companies in Minnesota have engaged in a large-scale scheme to fraudulently obtain and misappropriate federally funded child nutrition programs. The scheme was carried out by individuals who owned and operated companies purportedly in the business of providing federally funded free meals to underprivileged children and adults, including during the global COVID-19 pandemic,” the FBI search warrant alleges.

The search warrant lists Feeding Our Future’s St. Anthony offices and several connected addresses, including the home of its executive director, Aimee Bock.

(Snip)

[Valin]

The alleged Feeding Our Future scandal: more on Youth Leadership Academy

[Valin]

Man connected to Feeding Our Future probe arrested trying to leave country

Ismail and "other co-conspirators" are accused of laundering and misappropriating over $30 million through various shell companies for nearly two years.

Evan Stambaugh

April 24, 2022

A Minnesota man who has emerged as a “target” in the Feeding Our Future scandal was recently arrested while trying to leave the U.S. for Kenya.

On Wednesday afternoon, FBI agents arrested Mohamed Jama Ismail, 49, at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and charged him with one count of passport fraud.

Ismail is believed to be the first arrested individual with alleged ties to the Feeding Our Future scandal, though he has not been arrested in connection to the scandal itself.

His alleged company, Empire Cuisine & Market LLC, was a contracted food vendor with Feeding Our Future, the nonprofit accused of defrauding the U.S. government of millions of dollars and spending the money on luxury cars, homes, and vacations.

(Snip)

[Valin]

 

[Valin]

A deeper look at Minnesota’s free food fraud with Bill Glahn

 

[Valin]

47 charged in alleged $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme

"These 47 defendants engaged in a brazen scheme of staggering proportions," U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said during a press conference, describing the $250 million total as just the "floor."

Anthony Gockowski

September 20, 2022

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced charges against 47 Minnesotans Tuesday for allegedly defrauding the federal government’s child nutrition programs of $250 million in a little over 20 months.

“These 47 defendants engaged in a brazen scheme of staggering proportions,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said during a press conference, describing the $250 million total as just the “floor” because the federal investigation continues.

At the center of the charges is Aimee Bock, the founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit whose offices were raided in January. Tuesday’s press conference marked a dramatic escalation in the case as the federal government spent the eight months since the raids preparing six indictments against 47 individuals for charges ranging from conspiracy and wire fraud to money laundering and bribery.

(Snip)

[Valin]

In free lunch fraud: The press conference

Scott Johnson

Sep. 21 2022

Alpha News covers United States Attorney Andrew Luger’s press conference announcing the filing of federal charges in the massive free lunch conspiracy in editor Anthony Gockowski’s story “47 charged in alleged $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.” Supplement Anthony’s story with Bill Glahn’s Center of the American Experiment’s backgrounders here (an invaluable scandal timeline with links) and here (on the related Partners in Nutrition story).

The Alpha News story links to video of the press conference below. Sitting in the front row to the right of the screen that was set up for the press conference, I was unable to take photos of the slides that accompanied Luger’s presentation. Luger’s slides include exhibits that depict the scope as well as the open and obvious nature of the fraud. You couldn’t miss it. Indeed, as Luger made clear, the Minnesota Department of Education (which administered the free lunch program) picked up on it more or less from the outset.

So how do you explain that it continued for 20 months? That was the question that I asked Luger at about 44:00 of the press conference video. You can’t hear my question but you can hear Luger’s answer. He referred me to the four corners of the six indictments. However, I wasn’t the only one asking the question.

(Snip)

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Short Version (Long at Link)

Sep 20, 2022 U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said 47 people have been charged in connection with "the largest pandemic fraud in the United States." Watch an introductory segment of the presser. WCCO will have more coverage.

[Valin]

But Wait It Gets Worse!

Caryn Sullivan: Friday food for thought

As details emerge about the Feeding Our Future scandal, the numbers boggle the mind and beg the question: was anyone even remotely doing the math?

Caryn Sullivan

September 23, 2022

With traditional values under siege, it often feels like we’re living in an inside out, upside down world, where right is wrong, and left is right, and those who speak up are shut down.

Friday food for thought offers readers news to chew on over the weekend.

Feeding Our Future’s new math

As details emerge about the Feeding Our Future scandal, the numbers boggle the mind and beg the question: was anyone even remotely doing the math?

Just one small example in the brouhaha that made international news: a site in Willmar, population 21,000, reported it fed 2,000 kids — nearly half the students enrolled in the district — seven days per week. Records showed only 33 of the students who were allegedly served meals were enrolled in the district. The rest of the names were fabricated.

Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis was paid $16 million for serving nearly 4 million meals to children in 20 months. For context, in 2021, Minneapolis Public Schools served just over 31,000 students.

Food for thought: if these entities purported to feed Minnesota children during the pandemic, were kids going without food?

(Snip)

[Valin]

SHOCKING NEWS ALERT!

Several DFL donors charged in free-food fraud

Campaign finance records show 42-year-old Liban Yasin Alishire donated $2,500 in May of this year to the reelection campaign of Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Anthony Gockowski

September 23, 2022

Liban Yasin Alishire, pictured above, allegedly used money stolen from the federal Child Nutrition Programs to purchase this resort in Kenya.

At least nine of the 48 people accused of defrauding the government of $250 million meant to feed hungry children have donated to Democratic officeholders in Minnesota.

The number is likely higher and Alpha News is working to confirm the identities of additional defendants.

Campaign finance records show 42-year-old Liban Yasin Alishire donated $2,500 in May of this year to the reelection campaign of Attorney General Keith Ellison.

(Snip)

Liban Yasin Alishire, right, pictured with Minnesota Sen. Omar Fateh, center.

(Snip)

Omar, Fateh, and Frey have said in previous statements to the media that they’ve returned the donations. None of them replied to requests for comment.

Liban Yasin Alishire

Attorney General Keith Ellison: $2,500 (5/27/22)

Abdinasir Mahamed Abshir

Sen. Omar Fateh: $1,000 (6/6/21)

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey: $1,000 (7/27/21)

Minneapolis Council Member Jeremiah Ellison: $600 (12/20/21)

Asad Mohamed Abshir

Sen. Omar Fateh: $1,000 (6/6/21)

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey: $1,000 (7/27/21)

Abdihakim Ali Ahmed

Sen. Omar Fateh: $1,000 (6/6/2021)

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey: $1,000 (7/27/21)

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar: $2,700 (3/31/2021)

Ahmed Abdullahi Ghedi

Sen. Omar Fateh: $1,000 (6/6/21)

Minneapolis Council Member Jeremiah Ellison: $600 (12/20/21)

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey: $1,000 (7/27/21)

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar: $2,700 (2/23/21)

Salim Ahmed Said

Sen. Omar Fateh: $1,000 (6/6/21)

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey: $1,000 (7/27/21)

Minneapolis Council Member Jeremiah Ellison: $600 (12/20/21)

Abdulkadir Nur Salah

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey: $1,000 (7/26/21)

Minneapolis Council Member Jeremiah Ellison: $600 (12/20/21)

Abdikadir Ainanshe Mohamud, previously served on Mayor Frey’s community safety working group

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey: $1,000 (7/26/21)

Abdi Nur Salah, former aide to Mayor Frey

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey: $1,000 (7/27/21)

[Valin]

Duluth News Tribune

Most Feeding Our Future defendants avoid pretrial detention

Three of the suspects have left the country, but prosecutors still don't consider most of the others to pose a flight risk.

MINNEAPOLIS — Most of the four dozen people charged in an alleged $250 million scheme to defraud federal child nutrition programs are not being jailed as the sprawling case moves forward.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minneapolis said three of the suspects have left the country, but prosecutors still do not consider most of the others to pose a flight risk and have not asked judges to detain them.

(Snip)

[Valin]

Judge calls out Walz for ‘false’ claims about Feeding Our Future

"All of the Minnesota Department of Education food reimbursement payments to Feeding Our Future were made voluntarily, without any court order," the Minnesota Judicial Branch said.

Anthony Gockowski

September 24, 2022

(Snip)

In an exceedingly rare move, the Minnesota Judicial Branch issued a statement on behalf of that judge, John H. Guthmann, late Friday afternoon, debunking the Walz administration’s narrative.

“As the public court record and Judge Guthmann’s orders make plain, Judge Guthmann never issued an order requiring the MN Department of Education to resume food reimbursement payments to FOF. The Department of Education voluntarily resumed payments and informed the court that FOF resolved the ‘serious deficiencies’ that prompted it to suspend payments temporarily. All of the MN Department of Education food reimbursement payments to FOF were made voluntarily, without any court order,” the statement said.

(Snip)

 

[Valin]

On 9/24/2022 at 7:39 AM, Valin said:

Judge calls out Walz for ‘false’ claims about Feeding Our Future

"All of the Minnesota Department of Education food reimbursement payments to Feeding Our Future were made voluntarily, without any court order," the Minnesota Judicial Branch said.

Anthony Gockowski

September 24, 2022

(Snip)

Power Line

Sep.25 2022

(Snip)

Due to inaccurate statements by the Governor, the Commissioner of Education, and the media regarding the investigation of Feeding Our Future (FOF) and resulting federal indictments, Ramsey County District Court Judge John H. Guthmann has authorized the issuance of this news release.

Since the investigation of Feeding Our Future (FOF) by law enforcement became public in January 2022, numerous media outlets have reported on the investigation and the events leading to federal criminal indictments. Many of the reports commented on the civil lawsuit filed in Ramsey County District Court by FOF against the MN Department of Education in November 2020. The original lawsuit was based solely on claims that the Department of Education violated federal regulations and laws prohibiting race discrimination, by failing to act on FOF’s applications for new food-distribution sites as part of its administration of the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. Judge Guthmann was initially assigned to the case. The lawsuit included a motion by FOF for an order to require the Department of Education to act on pending site applications. Before the court could rule, the parties reached an agreement in which the Department of Education agreed to handle these federally regulated site applications “reasonably promptly.” A consent order approving the settlement was issued on December 22, 2020.

The Department of Education suspended payments to FOF based on a “serious deficiencies” letter it issued to FOF on March 30, 2021. As a result, FOF filed a motion asking Judge Guthmann to order the Department of Education to resume payments and to pay sanctions. Judge Guthmann never ordered the Department of Education to resume payments to FOF in April 2021, or at any other time.

Thereafter, the Department of Education voluntarily resumed making payments to FOF. The Department of Education was not ordered by the court to do so. After the Department resumed voluntary payments, counsel for the Department of Education wrote the court asking that FOF’s motion for sanctions based on non-payment be denied as moot because the Department voluntarily resumed payments. In a later court filing related to FOF’s separate motion for sanctions based on the failure to approve or deny 144 applications for new food delivery sites, the Department of Education advised the court that FOF’s serious deficiencies were resolved as of June 4, 2021. Of the 144 applications, 143 were denied, resulting in FOF’s separate administrative appeal.

On February 26, 2022, the Star Tribune reported on a federal investigation of FOF. The article included the following false statement: “In April 2021, Ramsey County District Judge John Guthmann told the department it didn’t have the authority to stop payments and ordered the department to resume payments.” Since February, that Star Tribune quote has been repeated or paraphrased on many occasions by many other media outlets. The same media sources reported that, in her April 4, 2022, testimony to the Minnesota Senate, the Commissioner of the Education stated that the MN Department of Education tried to stop payments to FOF, only to be ordered by Judge Guthmann to resume payments. That is false. Then, when federal indictments were announced this week, many new reports were published. On September 22, 2022, Governor Tim Walz told the media that the Minnesota Department of Education attempted to end payments to FOF because of possible fraud, but that Judge Guthmann ordered payments to continue in April 2021. That is also false.

As the public court record and Judge Guthmann’s orders make plain, Judge Guthmann never issued an order requiring the MN Department of Education to resume food reimbursement payments to FOF. The Department of Education voluntarily resumed payments and informed the court that FOF resolved the “serious deficiencies” that prompted it to suspend payments temporarily. All of the MN Department of Education food reimbursement payments to FOF were made voluntarily, without any court order.

(Snip)

[Valin]

In free lunch fraud: A media note

Scott Johnson

Sept. 25 2022

Today’s Star Tribune features a profile of Bock, the indicted mastermind of the free lunch fraud that we have been covering since this past January. The profile draws heavily on the reporters’ interview of her in the immediate aftermath of the FBI raids that made the scandal public. The only really new element is its mention of my friend Abdi Nur at the top of the story:

(Snip)

In 2016 Abdi was my first Somali source on Ilhan Omar’s marriage to her brother. Since then we have become good friends and he has helped me deepen my knowledge of the Omar story through his contacts in the community. The Daily Mail caught up with Abdi and his knowledge of Omar’s marriage to her brother in this 2020 story. If you get your news from the Star Tribune, it might come as something of a shock.

Abdi is the person who first brought Guhaad Hashi to my attention. Hashi has served as one of Omar’s enforcers in the Somali community. He is also one of the 48 defendants whose indictment was unsealed in the Feeding Our Future fraud last week. Will the circle be unbroken?

Now that the Star Tribune has happened on to Abdi, perhaps they can follow up on the story of Omar’s marriage to her brother. It’s not too late and it’s quite a story. In the upper reaches of American politics, at least, there’s never been anything quite like it.

[Valin]

Media feeding our fraud

Scott Johnson

Sept. 28 2022

Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison have a line on the massive Feeding Our Future fraud. Their fallback defense is that the Minnesota Department of Education brought the case to the FBI and that MDE’s $250 million payout of federal tax dollars to the perpetrators of the fraud was required by the FBI so as not to blow the investigation. They count on the inability of friendly and incompetent reporters to pierce this absurdity and they think the voters are morons.

Ellison appeared yesterday morning for an interview by WCCO’s Vineeta Sawkar. Like Walz, Ellison is unaccustomed to unloving questions from friendly reporters. You can hear him beginning to sweat as Sawkar slightly pressed him on his nonfeasance in shutting down the fraud. He hems and haws, pleads attorney-client privilege, refers to cooperation with the FBI investigation, and alleges compulsion by Judge Guthmann’s mythical “order” to continue payments. Ellison presses the story that the payments continued at the instance of the FBI. (See Ellison’s timeline of the scandal here.) This is a lie as open and obvious as the underlying Feeding Our Future fraud, yet this is where we are.

Attorney General Keith Ellison discusses who knew what, when on FOF Scandal.

(Snip)

[Valin]

Sept. 28 2022 Tracking the Feeding Our Future Fraud with Bill Glahn from Center of the American Experiment

Compete Show

[Valin]

On 9/25/2022 at 10:28 AM, Valin said:

Power Line

Sep.25 2022

(Snip)

Due to inaccurate statements by the Governor, the Commissioner of Education, and the media regarding the investigation of Feeding Our Future (FOF) and resulting federal indictments, Ramsey County District Court Judge John H. Guthmann has authorized the issuance of this news release.

 

The Star Tribune judges Judge Guthmann

Scott Johnson

Sept. 30 2022

A week ago Ramsey County District Judge John Guthmann called out the Star Tribune by name in a a press release he authorized regarding the Feeding Our Future case. This is the key passage bearing on the Star Tribune:

(Snip)

No one has responded on behalf of the Star Tribune as an institution. All in all, a pathetic display.

Today the Star Tribune takes up the issue in the editorial “Hungering for clarity after food fraud.” Citing Governor Tim Walz’s outburst calling for an investigation of the judge that was the proximate cause of Judge Guthmann’s statement, the editors write:

Quote

That outburst inspired a belated pushback from the judge, who promptly issued a formal statement calling the governor’s remarks, MDE statements and media reports about his order “false.”

One would never know that the judge’ press release called out the Star Tribune for being the progenitor of the false statement. Again, one would not know that the Star Tribune is a party to the issue. The editorial nevertheless proceeds to adjudicate the issue and find that Judge Guthmann was correct before muddying the waters:

(Snip)

The editorial doesn’t stop there. It continues:

Quote

Former [Ed.: DFL] Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, who also isn’t involved in the case, told a Star Tribune reporter this week that although there was no formal order from the judge, she could see why MDE could take Guthmann’s comments during the hearing to mean that the agency would be hard-pressed to stop payments.

“The bottom line is that Judge Guthmann did not order them to continue payments. At the same time, it is understandable why the Department of Education felt like they had to continue paying,” Gaertner said. “A fair reading of the federal regulations seemed to require it, and more importantly though, they had to feel constrained to not in any way interfere with the FBI investigation.”

By the time the question of the payments again came before Guthmann, MDE had voluntarily resumed dispensing large sums to FOF rather than continuing to fight the legal battle. Ellison and MDE have said they feared tipping off FOF to the existence of the FBI probe that MDE’s concerns had by then inspired. The attorney general continues to point out, correctly, that it was MDE and the state that initially blew the whistle on FOF and worked with the feds to secure the indictments.

Still, MDE leaders acknowledged to the Star Tribune in May that, had they required extensive receipts and other paperwork, they may have been able to end the department’s relationship with FOF.

Why the decision was made to continue the payments and why stronger state oversight wasn’t in place are among the critical unanswered questions in this tangled affair. Minnesotans deserve answers to those questions — and accurate, clear communication from their elected officials.

(Snip)

[Valin]

Commentary: The DFL’s $250 million coverup

This is and forever will be the largest theft in Minnesota history and it didn’t have to happen. Tell the truth or someone will tell it for you.

Greg Pulles

October 9, 2022

The DFL coverup of the great Feeding Our Future (FOF) caper has now begun. We need to begin with the mess Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) created. Make no mistake, their malfeasance cost taxpayers $250 million.

Chapter one: The fraud is discovered

(Snip)

[Valin]

Oct 12, 2022 As U.S. Attorney Andy Luger announced more than two dozen indictments, he vowed there is even more to come.

[Valin]

Lawmakers: Walz admin broke the law, missed clear opportunities to stop fraud

In violation of state law, the Walz administration never alerted the Office of the Legislative Auditor to the suspected fraud, according to a letter released Monday.

Alexander Henderson

October 18, 2022

Republican lawmakers hammered the Walz administration Monday for missing at least five clear opportunities to prevent the Feeding Our Future scandal and violating state law along the way.

In a stunning development, Sen. Mark Koran and Rep. Steve Drazkowski released a letter showing the Walz administration never alerted the Office of the Legislative Auditor to the suspected fraud.

The 49 defendants in the case are accused of defrauding the federal Child Nutrition Programs of $250 million. In Minnesota, those programs are administered by the state Department of Education.

(Snip)

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Oct. 18 2022

[Valin]

How Keith Ellison fed our fraud

Scott Johnson

Oct. 28 2022

The nonfeasance of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison led to the losses taxpayers sustained in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud, according to the Star Tribune story
“Could Minnesota officials have stopped Feeding our Future fraud sooner?” The story by reporters Jeffrey Meitrodt and Ryan Faircloth essentially answers the headline question in the affirmative. The headline question should have been reformulated as a declarative sentence: Attorney General Keith Ellison could have stopped Feeding Our Future fraud sooner.

Analyze this:

(Snip)

Today’s Star Tribune story makes a contribution to the Ellison saga. Any intelligent reader can pass judgment on Ellison’s refusal to do his job in this case.

The story adds another chapter to Ellison’s history of shameless lying. Yet the Star Tribune is itself guilty of nonfeasance in Ellison’s case. The paper has never pressed him on the lies on which he staked his political career. In September 2006, when Ellison was about to be elected to Congress, I had the Star Tribune in mind when I wrote “Keith Ellison for dummies.” I used “dummies” as a euphemism for something harsher. We can only hope he will be held to account on November 8.

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I'm Surprised they (the Red Star) printed this!

[Valin]

Cloak and Dagger In the Free Food Scandal

John Hinderaker

October 28, 2022

Earlier this week, an anonymously-mailed package arrived at the American Experiment office. It was addressed to Bill Glahn, an American Experiment employee who has probably done more than anyone else to delve into the intricacies of the Feeding Our Future scandal. Regular Power Line readers may recall that more than $250 million was stolen brazenly by fraudsters operating under the umbrella of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future and two other entities. More than 40 individuals have been indicted, including the principals of Feeding Our Future, who allegedly received large kickbacks in return for facilitating the fraud. The money was stolen from a federal program intended to provide free meals to poor children; the program was administered by Minnesota’s Department of Education.

So what was in the package? An anonymous cover letter that presumably came from someone associated with the now-defunct Feeding Our Future, and copies of emails exchanged in August 2021 among Feeding Our Future’s founder and its lawyer on one hand, and representatives of the Minnesota Department of Education and Minnesota’s Attorney General’s office on the other.

What do the emails show? Feeding Our Future told the Department of Education that it suspected fraud on the part of one of the organizations participating in the free food program, House of Refuge. FoF wrote, rather implausibly, that this was the first indication of fraud in the program that had come to its attention, and asked for guidance from the Department.

Bill Glahn has written a post on the mysterious envelope that includes a link to all of the emails. The post’s title–“Even Feeding Our Future tried to warn state officials about fraud”–sums it up well. Minnesota’s Department of Education and Attorney General’s office essentially blew off Feeding Our Future’s concerns. They couldn’t be bothered, apparently. At one point, a Department of Education employee wrote, “MDE takes no position if fraud has taken place.”

It is quite remarkable: the principals of Feeding Our Future are presumed to be on their way to the penitentiary, but even they showed more concern about millions in stolen money than Minnesota’s Department of Education and Attorney General’s office.

(Snip)

[Valin]

Nov. 23 2022

[Valin]

Nov 28, 2022

[Valin]

Walz proposes inspector general in MDE to root out fraud

Bill Glahn, a policy fellow at the Center of the American Experiment who has closely tracked the case, said the proposals mainly consist of “hiring more bureaucrats.”
Anthony Gockowski
December 29, 2022

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced a series of proposals this week aimed at rooting out fraud in state government. 

Without explicitly mentioning it, the announcement is a clear response to the unfolding Feeding Our Future scandal wherein at least 50 Minnesotans allegedly defrauded federal meals programs of $250 million via the state Department of Education. 

(Snip)

“I am committed to rooting out and stopping fraud,” Walz said this week. “We need to protect taxpayer dollars. This plan will help ensure that state government works as efficiently and effectively as possible to improve the lives of Minnesotans, while creating new tools to catch fraudsters and hold them accountable.”

The proposal calls for expanding the Office of Grants Management at the Department of Administration and the Internal Controls team at Minnesota Management and Budget. He also would like to see the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension develop a coordinated approach for investigating cases of fraud. 

An additional proposal calls for a new inspector general position at the Department of Education and new staff members at six other state agencies who will be responsible for “oversight and accountability.” 

(Snip)

________________________________________________________________________

Why  does This

Come To Mind?