The scale of Minnesota’s “Feeding Our Future” COVID-19 fraud scheme just ballooned—dramatically. FBI Director Kash Patel announced over the weekend that 70 individuals have now been indicted in what he called one of the worst scandals in the state’s history. The scheme allegedly diverted $250 million from a federal program meant to feed hungry children during the pandemic.
“This is as shameless as it gets,” Patel said in a statement to Fox News. “Stealing over $250 million from hungry kids during a pandemic to fund mansions and luxury cars… we are sending a clear message: if you exploit the most vulnerable, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
So far, 38 of the 70 defendants have pleaded guilty. More than a dozen await trial, with the next courtroom battle scheduled for August. That follows a June trial where five Minnesotans were convicted—and one juror had a $120,000 cash bribe left at her home in a paper bag.
Yes, it’s that bad.
The federal investigation uncovered hundreds of sham “food distribution” sites across Minnesota, where fake attendance records and forged invoices were used to siphon money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s nutrition programs. Those programs, which had their requirements loosened during the pandemic, were intended to reimburse legitimate vendors who served meals to children impacted by school closures and economic hardship.
Instead, the fraudsters bought luxury homes, exotic vehicles, and lived large while pretending to feed children who, in many cases, never received a single meal.
“The brazenness of the operation is staggering,” said one FBI official. “This was not a gray-area accounting issue. This was straight-up theft—and it was deliberate.”
The roots of the scheme trace back to a web of nonprofits and shell companies that set up nearly 300 fake food sites. These entities filed claims for thousands—sometimes millions—of meals that were never served. Investigators say they used fake receipts, doctored food orders, and ghost employees to make it look legitimate on paper.
And the fallout might not be limited to the private sector.
Whispers are growing louder that top Minnesota officials may have had knowledge of the fraud well before it became public. House Republicans have even subpoenaed Governor Tim Walz amid allegations that his office ignored or downplayed red flags about the fraudulent operations.
“This may go deeper than anyone thought,” one House staffer said. “The idea that this could happen without some form of political protection is hard to believe.”
The scheme has also ignited broader criticism of the federal government’s pandemic response—specifically, the massive cash infusions that were sent out with minimal oversight. Critics say this is just one example of how pandemic relief became a gold mine for scammers.
Still, law enforcement is digging in. Trials will continue throughout the year, and more indictments are possible. The August proceedings are expected to be closely watched, especially after the jury tampering incident in June that nearly derailed the first wave of convictions.
As the DOJ continues its sweeping crackdown, Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future case is likely to remain a national flashpoint for pandemic-era corruption—and for what happens when good intentions meet little accountability.