In a case that highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in government programs, a Dallas man has been sentenced to a year and a half in federal prison for conning the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program out of $2.3 million. Michael Anthony Munson, the founder of the Heloise Munson Foundation, admitted to inflating meal counts for their summer food sites and even submitting false meal counts for sites that were never serviced. Over the course of seven years, Munson fraudulently obtained reimbursements for 1.4 million meals that were never provided, pocketing the money meant to provide free meals to children in low-income areas during the summer months. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Brasher.
Man Sentenced for Conning Summer Food Service Program Out of $2.3 Million
Background
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) operates the Summer Food Service Program, which aims to provide free meals to children in low-income areas when school is not in session. The program serves as a vital support system for children who rely on school meals as their primary source of nutrition. The program operates during the summer months and provides meals through various sites across the country.
Indictment and Plea
One individual, Michael Anthony Munson, founder of the Heloise Munson Foundation, was recently indicted and pleaded guilty to defrauding the Summer Food Service Program. Munson was indicted in August 2018 and entered a guilty plea in July 2022. The indictment alleged that Munson engaged in fraudulent activities to deceive the USDA and obtain funds illegally.
Sentencing and Restitution
Following his guilty plea, Munson was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ada Brown. Munson received a prison sentence of one and a half years for his involvement in the fraud scheme. Additionally, Judge Brown ordered Munson to pay restitution, which will be determined at a later date. The exact timing of the restitution order is expected to be announced later this week.
Statute Enacted to Address Fraud
The statute under which Munson was charged, convicted, and sentenced is 42 U.S.C. § 1761(o)(1). This statute was enacted by Congress in 1977 specifically to combat fraud in the Summer Food Service Program. It provides a legal framework for prosecuting individuals who attempt to deceive and defraud the program for personal gain.
Admission of Inflated Meal Counts
Munson admitted to knowingly inflating meal counts for summer food sites serviced by the Heloise Munson Foundation. This fraudulent activity occurred between 2008 and 2014, spanning a period of seven years. Furthermore, Munson confessed to providing false meal counts for sites that his foundation did not actually service. These actions were a deliberate attempt to manipulate the program and unlawfully obtain funds.
Fabricated Invoices and Affidavit
To support the fraudulent claims, Munson orchestrated the creation of fabricated invoices from a fictitious company called Janus Wholesale Food, Inc. He paid an individual $75,000 to produce these invoices, which falsely indicated that the foundation had purchased the required amount of food, milk, and juice for the claimed number of meals. Munson also submitted a fabricated affidavit from the purported Director of Sales for Janus, further deceiving investigators into believing the false claims.
Actual Number of Meals Provided
Contrary to the inflated meal counts Munson claimed, the investigation revealed that the Heloise Munson Foundation provided fewer than 1 million meals during the specified period. This means that over 1.4 million meals were fraudulently claimed and accounted for, resulting in dishonest reimbursements from the program. Munson pocketed the funds obtained through this fraudulent scheme.
Investigating Agencies
The investigation into Munson’s fraudulent activities was carried out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. These agencies worked diligently to uncover the truth and build a strong case against Munson.
Prosecutor
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Brasher served as the prosecutor in this case. Through his dedicated efforts, Brasher successfully presented the evidence and arguments that ultimately led to Munson’s guilty plea and subsequent sentencing.
Contact Information
For more information on this case or related inquiries, please contact Erin Dooley, the Press Officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Texas. She can be reached at 214-659-8707 or via email at erin.dooley@usdoj.gov. Alternatively, you can visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office at their address listed below:
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Texas
[Address]
In conclusion, the conviction and sentencing of Michael Anthony Munson for defrauding the Summer Food Service Program serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining the integrity of government initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable populations. The diligent actions of investigating agencies and the dedicated work of the prosecutor have resulted in justice being served. The restitution order will provide some relief for the program, ensuring that funds can be directed towards their original purpose of providing meals to children in need.