Feeding Greed! Local Nonprofit Steals $2 MILLION Meant To Feed Low-Income Missouri Kids
St. Louis nonprofit owner accused of $2M fraud, allegedly pocketing funds meant to feed low-income children while submitting false claims. 🌐 #News #StLouisMO #Missouri #Crime
ST. LOUIS, MO – St. Louis is reeling from allegations that a local charity orchestrated a brazen $2 million fraud. The nonprofit’s altruistic facade has crumbled, revealing a multi-million dollar scheme that preyed on the very children it claimed to serve. Cymone McClellan, the 31-year-old owner of Sisters of Lavender Rose (SOLR), stands accused of orchestrating an elaborate plot to siphon off over $2 million in state funds earmarked for feeding Missouri‘s most vulnerable youth.
Lavender Larceny: How a Children’s Charity Became a Cash Cow
Federal prosecutors allege that McClellan exploited a state program designed to provide nutrition to low-income children, turning it into her personal cash cow. From early 2019 to mid-2022, SOLR reportedly submitted grossly inflated meal reimbursement claims to Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Food and Nutrition Programs for Children.
The scale of the deception is staggering. SOLR claimed to have served a whopping 860,876 meals to children in need. However, investigators found that the organization only purchased enough food and milk to cover less than 25% of those purported meals. This discrepancy forms the cornerstone of the government’s case against McClellan.
From Meal Counts to Strip Clubs: The Audacious Paper Trail
In an apparent attempt to legitimize the fraudulent claims, McClellan allegedly doctored sign-in sheets to exaggerate attendance at food distribution sites. In a twist that would be comical if not for the gravity of the situation, one of these supposed meal distribution locations was revealed to be an adults-only nightclub called Elmo’s Love Lounge.
The indictment further accuses SOLR of submitting false documentation to DHSS, asserting that all reimbursement funds were used exclusively for children’s meals and that no single purchase exceeded $5,000. These claims, prosecutors argue, were blatantly false.
McClellan now faces four felony counts of wire fraud. If convicted, she could be looking at up to two decades in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. Additionally, prosecutors are seeking to seize a substantial list of assets, including real estate and multiple vehicles, among them a 2020 Mercedez-Benz Metris van and a 2018 Lexus RX SUV.
Feeding Greed: The Staggering Cost of Betrayed Trust
As this case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in systems designed to help those in need and the importance of rigorous oversight in charitable organizations.
The true victims in this alleged scheme are the countless children who may have gone hungry while funds meant for their nourishment were reportedly diverted for personal gain.
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