Jury Seated For Trial of Alleged Ringleader in $250M Fraud Case

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A jury was seated Monday in the trial of the alleged ringleader of a scheme that federal prosecutors say exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to steal $250 million from a program meant to feed children.

Prosecutors have called it one of the country’s largest pandemic-related fraud cases. A related trial last year was marred by alleged attempt by some defendants and people linked with them to bribe a juror with a bag of $120,000 in cash. The juror went straight to police.

Aimee Bock — the founder of Feeding our Future, the group that prosecutors say was at the heart of the plot — is one of 70 defendants charged. Thirty of them have already pleaded guilty to various charges, including some who had been scheduled to go on trial with Bock this week.

One defendant from the first trial was sentenced this month to 17 1/2 years, the longest prison term handed down in the case so far.

Opening statements in the trial of Bock and a co-defendant are set for Feb. 10 and the proceedings are expected to last around four weeks: