Jury Seated for Trial of Alleged Ringleader of $250 Million Pandemic Fraud Scheme in Minnesota

Aimee Bock, the executive director of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, speaks in St. Anthony, Minn., on Jan. 27, 2022. Shari L. Gross/Star Tribune via AP

MINNEAPOLIS—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.