In child-meal fraud, Little Rock man given 2 years

A 26-year-old Little Rock man who in January admitted being part of a scheme to steal federal funds meant for providing food for poor children was sentenced Friday to 2½ years in prison.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Miller also ordered Michael Lee to repay $660,428.07 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which provided the state-administered funds through its Child and Adult Care Feeding Program.

Lee pleaded guilty Jan. 4 to 20 counts of wire fraud, admitting that between March 2012 and May 2014, he fraudulently sought reimbursement for feeding hundreds of children in Arkadelphia and Little Rock.

-snip-

Of 14 people charged in nine indictments related to the scheme since December 2014, two were convicted in a jury trial in April and await sentencing; five pleaded guilty and have been sentenced; and seven others who pleaded guilty before trial also await sentencing.

Authorities have reported uncovering more than $11 million in the fraud related to the Arkansas feeding programs.

Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/apr/29/man-sentenced-in-child-meal-fraud-case-/