AG Keith Ellison sues violence-prevention charity over alleged $6.5M fraud

A Minnesota “violence interruption” charity has collapsed after its leaders allegedly used $6.5 million price of charitable funds to bankroll lavish life and a personal liquor retailer.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison introduced on Friday a civil lawsuit in opposition to nonprofit We Push for Peace and its former administrators, Trahern Pollard and Jaclyn McGuigan.

The group, which held profitable contracts for group outreach and violence prevention, was pushed into the bottom by “rampant abuse” and blatant self-dealingprosecutors allege.

According to the grievance, Pollard personally pocketed greater than $6 million of the diverted charitable funds. Instead of serving to the group, the charity’s cash allegedly fueled a lifetime of luxurious for Pollard, paying for journeys to Las Vegas, luxury vehicles and massive shopping sprees at a Harley Davidson showroom and spa shops.

INSIDE MINNESOTA’S $1B FRAUD: FAKE OFFICES, PHONY FIRMS AND A SCANDAL HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

Pollard can be accused of utilizing the nonprofit to repay his baby help, settle a private tax invoice with the IRS, and subsidize his personal, for-profit companies — together with a used automotive dealership and liquor retailer.

McGuigan, who acted because the charity’s treasurer, allegedly transferred a recurring $1,000 per week of nonprofit funds into her own private account and stole 1000’s extra in authorities grant funds that she claimed have been for “administrative” bills.

“Instead of helping the community, they helped themselves to millions of dollars that should have gone into the community,” Ellison wrote in a press release.

FILE- FBI and regulation enforcement brokers raid Mini Childcare (previously Mako Childcare) in south Minneapolis on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Mini Childcare was one among 22 websites focused Tuesday morning as a part of a fraud probe in Minnesota. (Anthony Souffle/The Minnesota Star Tribune by way of Getty Images)

MASSIVE MEDICAID FRAUD SCHEME PUTS MINNESOTA’S FEDERAL FUNDING AT RISK — AND FALLOUT COULD WIDEN

Prosecutors famous that when the City of Minneapolis requested the nonprofit’s help throughout Operation Metro Surge, a major Homeland Security enforcement operation In Minnesota, the once-multimillion-dollar group was “utterly incapable” of answering the decision.

When state investigators started closing in, Pollard allegedly submitted false statements below the penalty of perjury, falsely claiming a baby help cost was “nonprofit overhead” and {that a} $35,000 payout to his private pals was “Chicago payroll.”

FILE – Keith Ellison speaks throughout a Level of Justice panel dialogue on the United Justice Coalition’s inaugural Social Justice Summit in New York City on July 23, 2022. (Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

To justify the lacking tens of millions, prosecutors declare Pollard shortly integrated a pretend “for-profit arm” of the charity simply days after the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office started asking questions.

He additionally allegedly arrange one other new, for-profit company referred to as “Change Makers” to empty the nonprofit’s remaining income and diverted profitable group liaison contracts, together with a cope with Whole Foods, away from the charity and straight into his newly shaped personal firm, in response to court docket paperwork.