AG Keith Ellison sues violence-prevention charity over alleged $6.5M fraud
Fox News • • nation
Key Points:
- Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a civil lawsuit against the nonprofit We Push for Peace and its former leaders, Trahern Pollard and Jaclyn McGuigan, for allegedly misusing $6.5 million in charitable funds.
- Pollard is accused of embezzling over $6 million to finance a lavish lifestyle, including luxury trips, vehicles, and personal expenses such as child support and IRS tax bills, while McGuigan allegedly stole thousands through unauthorized transfers and false claims on government grants.
- The charity, which was supposed to focus on violence prevention and community outreach, failed to provide assistance during critical operations like Minneapolis' Operation Metro Surge due to financial mismanagement.
- Prosecutors allege Pollard created fake for-profit entities to conceal the missing funds and diverted contracts away from the nonprofit to his private companies, further draining the organization's resources.
- The case highlights significant abuse and self-dealing within a once-multimillion-dollar nonprofit, raising concerns about oversight and accountability in community-focused organizations.
