3 Feeding Our Future defendants set to change pleas
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Guilty pleas could soon be coming in the massive Feeding Our Future fraud case as three defendants in the case have scheduled change of plea hearings.
Court records show Hadith Ahmed, Bekam Merdassa, and Hanna Marakegn are set to appear in federal court on Thursday for the plea hearings.
All three were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the case under a federal statement sheet but not indicted. In total, 49 people face charges related to the $250 million fraud case involving Feeding Our Future.
RELATED: Minnesota lacked fraud evidence vs Feeding Our Future before FBI got involved
Minnesota lacked fraud evidence vs Feeding Our Future before FBI got involved
One thing was missing in Minnesota's months-long legal battle against Feeding Our Future: specific evidence of fraud presented to a judge. The FBI later did what the Minnesota Department of Education and Minnesota attorney general's office did not, producing an avalanche of evidence that has resulted in 49 indictments in what federal prosecutors consider the biggest pandemic fraud scheme in the country. The feds say at least $250 million meant to feed low-income kids was stolen.
Authorities brought the charges last month, with accusations that stolen money that was intended to help feed children during the pandemic was used for personal gain. Over the course of years, authorities say the defendants falsified receipts, claiming to have served as many as 125 million fake meals.
If guilty pleas are entered during Thursday's hearings, they would be the first guilty pleas in the massive fraud case.
Feeding Our Future: Founder, 46 others charged in 'massive' fraud scheme: RAW
The founder of Feeding Our Future and 46 others have been charged in what federal officials are calling the largest pandemic fraud in the country. U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger on Tuesday announced charges against founder Aimee Bock and others that include conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery. Authorities alleged the massive fraud scheme took at least $250 million from the federal child nutrition program — money that was intended to help feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic.