State Senator Mark Koran (R-North Branch) released the following statement after the delivery of guilty verdicts for most of the seven defendants initially charged in the Feeding our Future case.  

  

“Some justice was served in this case so far, but until we see an immediate and significant change in grant management within our state agencies, we will continue to see pervasive waste, fraud, and abuse of tax dollars,” Koran said. “This type of fraud is especially egregious as it diverted critical funding away from nonprofits who were serving hungry children.” 

 

“Just last year we heard the Legislative Auditor found ‘pervasive noncompliance by state agencies with grant management policies,’ but there has been a complete lack of action from Democrats to address these ongoing concerns,” Koran continued. “Accountability and justice are a step in the right direction for this case, but policymakers have to prioritize preventing this abuse of taxpayer dollars in the first place.”  

 

Five defendants received guilty convictions on most of the charges brought against them by the U.S. Attorney’s office. Two defendants were acquitted. Seventy people have been similarly charged in what is likely the largest COVID-related fraud in the nation. 

 

Additionally, Koran sits on the Legislative Audit Commission that will be hearing the Legislative Auditor’s special review report, Minnesota Department of Education: Oversight of Feeding Our Future on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 9 a.m.