ST. LOUIS — The executive director of a Missouri nonprofit was federally indicted Thursday and accused of stealing millions from a program intended to feed low-income children.
Connie Bobo, a 44-year-old St. Charles woman, was indicted on three felony counts each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, and two counts of obstruction of an official proceeding.
The 44-year-old worked as the executive director of the New Heights Community Resource Center. The program provides meals to low-income, school-aged children after school and during the summer, according to a press release.
According to the indictment, Bobo and New Heights are accused of fraudulently claiming to serve at least three million meals that were never actually served during a three-year span. Prosecutors said the fraudulent claims netted around $11 million from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the indictment said.
According to the indictment, Bobo used $4.3 million to purchase a nearly $1 million home for herself, homes for relatives and made a $2.2 million commercial real estate investment.
The indictment also accuses Bobo of spending the money on luxury goods and giving nearly $1.4 million to her romantic partner.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) provided money to the nonprofit as part of the state's Food and Nutrition Program for children. Nonprofits are required to show proper management and fiscal responsibility in using the money for the program, and submit budgets and management plans, a press release said.
Bobo is also accused of submitting false management plans and falsely claiming that three people were serving on the nonprofit's board, the indictment said. It says she submitted budgets that left out the money she was spending on real estate and luxury goods.
Bobo is also accused of forging an invoice from a food vendor that falsely claims that New Heights had purchased hundreds of gallons of milk.
The U.S. Attorney's Office asks if you have information regarding this case to contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
