A jury of Minnesotans has been selected for the first Feeding Our Future criminal trial, a high-profile federal meal fraud case. The jurors are mostly white and from the Twin Cities, with the trial expected to last six weeks. The case involves seven defendants accused of stealing millions of federal dollars meant for meal programs for low-income children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trial has drawn national attention and was difficult to find impartial jurors due to the widespread media coverage.
The defendants are alleged to have submitted fake invoices to collect money for meals but instead used the funds for personal expenses. Since September 2022, 70 people have been charged in connection with the fraud scheme. The defendants in this trial argue that they believed they were providing meals to real people and did not knowingly commit fraud.
The jury selection process was lengthy, with potential jurors being questioned about their knowledge of the case, connections to the defendants or witnesses, and feelings towards law enforcement. Many jurors had heard of Feeding Our Future through news coverage or personal connections but some were unaware of the case entirely. The trial has brought attention to the lack of oversight in federal meal programs and the potential for fraud in such programs.
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