(KNSI) — A St. Cloud-based nonprofit connected to the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud case has been dissolved.
At the request of the Attorney General, Hennepin County Judge Karen A. Janisch disbands for misappropriation of nonprofit assets, lack of legitimate nonprofit activities, and failure to cooperate with the AG’s investigation or respond to litigation. ordered.
Youth Higher Educational Achievement was one of 17 organizations shut down by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office for allegedly trying to defraud the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s federal child nutrition program.
According to the civil complaint, YHEA was founded by Firsan Hassan in December 2020 with the purpose of directing funds to herself, her family, and her co-conspirators. It’s a scheme the federal government describes as “an outrageous conspiracy to steal public funds intended for child care.”In total, he allegedly received more than $2.5 million and spent it on shopping at department stores and retail stores.
Checks from electronics stores, gas stations, and YHEA accounts to Hassan.
The organization claimed to have served 4,388 snacks and dinners seven days a week. YHEA filed the complaint alleging it provided more than 1 million meals from April to December 2021. Officials say Hassan and his co-conspirators created fraudulent meal counts, false lists and billing documents.
The program was administered by the Minnesota Department of Education. Investigators said YHEA had a contract with S&S Catering in Minneapolis to provide the meals. Catering company owners Kamal Hassan and Sahara Noor have pleaded guilty to accepting refunds for meals they never made.
Mr. Hassan is among dozens of other people charged in what federal authorities describe as a widespread conspiracy to steal more than $250 million from taxpayers. YHEA has not been active since January 2022. The charity was charged with one count of violating nonprofit law and other grounds justifying dissolution.
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