MN fraud: Feeding our Future ringleader sentenced: Attorneys react [FULL] [FULL]

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:01]Yeah, >> thank you for doing this. I know we talked a little bit question. What's your reaction to the judge's decision?

[00:00:13]>> I think the judge got it right. This was an unprecedented uh crime uh in Minnesota and in our country's history.

[00:00:20]So, it it only makes sense that we have an unprecedented sentence, which is what the judge did here. Uh this is what accountability looks like.

[00:00:30]>> You delivered the revolt for the government in this case. Um did did you ever imagine um playing such an integral role in this like you said unprecedented >> I this was a a team effort of many people. I'm proud of the role that I played. I'm even more proud of all of the people who were involved in this case. The feeding our future investigation prosecution involved many talented accountants, agents, support staff. Uh I was merely one part of it.

[00:01:05]>> Uh just one one impression from the hearing today. The judge noted that uh box testimony amounted was in fact perjury. Is that significant to you if somebody was working in this for so long?

[00:01:17]>> Well, it it is it is significant, but I also think the court got it right. Um, I sat there and listened to every word that Amy Bach said in the trial. Uh, at the end of the trial, I did give the rebuttal and I turned away from the jury at one point and I looked at Miss Bach and I looked her in the eyes and I said in response to what uh she had put forth in the courtroom, words to the effect of, "Are you kidding me? What complete and what utter nonsense?" that those were the words that I said and at the end of the trial. Um, and I think I think the court got it right when it concluded the same that Miss Bach committed perjury. So, >> has anybody asked about restitution and recovering stolen funds? Where does that stand? I think last I checked it was like 70 million or something like that in our future.

[00:02:10]>> I believe that's correct, but I'm no longer a federal prosecutor. I am not with the US attorney's office as of about seven months ago. Okay.

[00:02:19]>> So, I would direct you to my former office. So, >> so can you explain the difference between the restitution and the and the forfeite? There's two different amounts.

[00:02:28]I know it could be a little confusing for people. What does she have to actually pay if she can't pay?

[00:02:33]>> Yeah. So, restitution and forfeite are similar and related concepts. Uh restitution is to go to the victims.

[00:02:40]Forfeite is an aspect of punishment. Uh and that's where they uh reside in two different worlds. They both have to do with money. And in this case there is a lot a lot of money that was stolen. So >> it's 242 million.

[00:02:57]>> And then uh just kind of also speaking of money explain the difference because the initial loss amount and probably we're talking about close to 250. So 246 million. Some of that was subtracted from the two loss amount.

[00:03:11]>> A small a small portion was subtracted.

[00:03:14]it. No matter how you cut it, it is a massive figure. 242 million is the amount almost to the penny that really talented forensic accountants traced which helped reveal this crime.

[00:03:27]>> Thank you.

[00:03:28]>> Thank you.

[00:03:33]>> Sure.

[00:03:37]>> Matt's already said a lot. your reaction to to the verdict?

[00:03:40]>> Well, it's a long sentence and Amy Bach did everything she could to earn it. Um, the judge found what we all knew, which was that feed in our future was entirely fraudulent. All the sites under its sponsorship were fraudulent. Um, and she carried out the scheme um, every step of the way, including by threatening MDE um, in lawsuits elsewhere and accusing them baselessly of racism when they tried to shut down the program and the fraudulent sites. I know it's not the first time we've seen or heard her cry.

[00:04:10]Were you moved by anything she said today?

[00:04:14]>> I don't take anything A N A N A N A N A N A N A N A N A N A N Box says at face value. Obviously, it's a I'm sure she's emotional and sad. It's hard to watch someone be sentenced. That's true. In any case, regardless of how bad the crime I'm I'm sorry. Can you I can't hear you.

[00:04:54]Okay.

[00:04:59]>> I think it absolutely does and the message has to be sent. Um the fraud in these government programs has gotten to epic proportions and the judge sending the message that it won't be tolerated and it will be dealt with seriously.

[00:05:11]>> I think the question of do you think all fraud should be prosecuted?

[00:05:15]>> Yes. Even if it's done by the president, >> all fraud should be prosecuted by regardless of person.

[00:05:22]>> Uh should the fraud be prosecuted by uh people who uh have worked with the president in the past? Um and also if the fraud is prosecuted, should there be amendments where um his family, his corporation should no longer have to report to the IRS?

[00:05:40]>> I'm not >> I'd like to see how that would work for all the other uh individuals who have child care places. uh that have been accused of fraud, are they no longer uh required to report with the IRS?

[00:05:51]>> I I have no comment on that.

[00:05:54]>> Do you have any comment on the indictment specifically?

[00:05:57]>> I know that the integrated community support system is uh um a program that's been flagged as vulnerable to fraud and had um a significant levels of fraud in it. So I I don't know the specific indictments that are being unsealed today, but it doesn't surprise me that some of them involve that program.

[00:06:14]Who's cost the taxpayer more money through his defendant or the president?

[00:06:19]>> Thank you.

[00:06:20]>> Thanks guys.

[00:06:28]>> It is really unfortunate that the court views the case differently from us.

[00:06:40]Um, I couldn't convince the jury that Amy Bach didn't personally gain.

[00:06:50]And the government agrees that she didn't personally gain.

[00:06:55]And what is hard to accept is you would risk 42 years in prison because of self arrandisement.

[00:07:07]that you would allow people to embezzle $246 million because of ego. That is what the government is saying to justify that they were not able to prove that Amy Bach personally gained substantial amount of money from the whole conspiracy. I think I I couldn't convince the judge, I couldn't convince the jury that they should look at what she actually benefited.

[00:07:47]All right? If you go to rob bank and you take x amount of money, you look at how much money you made, it mean nothing relatively compared to the amount of loss. here they're talking more about the harm though that that this crime has done to both the state to people's trust in government.

[00:08:06]>> Well, I am sure Oh, are you okay there?

[00:08:12]>> Uh I am sure that Amy did not start, you know, criminal activity in the state of Minnesota. She's not she's not responsible for white collar crimes.

[00:08:28]Um, I do know that the feeding the future and should I say maybe I I do know that the the child nutrition fraudulent activity precipitated a lot of the current law enforcement activity in the state of Minnesota.

[00:08:54]My client is not responsible for that.

[00:08:57]Indeed, we still maintain that much of the fraud committed by some of the sites, some of the people uh was not orchestrated by Miss Bark, was not encouraged by Miss Bark, but you know, this is water on the bridge.

[00:09:19]Um, she's been convicted, she's been sentenced.

[00:09:24]And, uh, now the next step is no longer uh, opinions, but just what what evidence is there for review. the judge. Can you talk about the judge pointed out that even throughout the trial there was just a lot of talk about Amy Bach still lying quite frankly and even in the trial the judge said they found that out. Is there anything you can speak on?

[00:09:53]>> I don't know whether the judge said after the trial she lied. Um the judge did not find that she testified honestly.

[00:10:05]Um, but Amy Bark has every right to uh talk to the media.

[00:10:12]>> I have in my notes >> that the judge said that she recruited board members during the trial.

[00:10:20]>> Well, that's part that's part that's part of trial, not post trial. You were asking about post trial, >> right?

[00:10:26]>> The the perjury note from the judge. Um, you may have gone over this, but do you plan on appealing?

[00:10:32]I I can't imagine why you would not, but my client hasn't given me the authority and then she has not retained me for the appeal. So, >> can you just go into what her frame of mind is right now? She was obviously very emotional speaking to the judge today. Um, what was her her mindset going into this sentencing and did you have any words with her after that sentence was handed down?

[00:10:53]>> I did have word with her and it is always my strategy not to talk about, you know, the law after sentencing.

[00:11:04]I'm more interested on interested in the person.

[00:11:11]What is she feeling?

[00:11:15]Uh it's more emotional that I'm not going to tell you how she feels. Is she devastated? Absolutely.

[00:11:22]Are we disappointed?

[00:11:24]I am beyond disappointment.

[00:11:29]not because uh for any other other reason that I wasn't able to convince the jury. I wasn't able to convince the judge and now I hope if she retains me I can convince the eth circuit court of appeals. You have a client who a lot of people think is simply not likable. And I'm wondering how much of the sense do you think is in a sense brought on by her personality and her sort of natural combiveness?

[00:12:03]>> I don't know about that. You know, hey, you're looking at a baldheaded African.

[00:12:09]I'm not going to, you know, likable in what ways? Um, I like him. I really do.

[00:12:18]She's a brilliant woman.

[00:12:20]She has flaws, but her flaws don't justify, you know, 42 years in prison.

[00:12:31]Um, but I take issue my biggest, let me tell you what I think the metaphor in this story, and I don't want to get in trouble.

[00:12:47]Um, we need to be very careful about our feelings about a certain segment of our society.

[00:13:06]And let's be careful how we project allegations of discrimination and racial bias.

[00:13:18]And sometimes I'm saying this as a civil rights attorney and a criminal defense attorney.

[00:13:25]Let's not drink our Kool-Aid.

[00:13:28]Um be careful when you drink them.

[00:13:36]Amy Bach wanted to give access to food program professionalism.

[00:13:47]She didn't set out to commit fraud.

[00:13:53]She saw the East African communities.

[00:13:57]She saw minorities in need of food and professional development.

[00:14:04]She gave them access and they betrayed her and she's going away for 42 years. She also poked the bear.

[00:14:14]Yes, she did.

[00:14:17]She did.

[00:14:19]You don't fight city hall. You don't fight city hall. Thanks, Kevin.

[00:14:23]Appreciate it. Thank you.