Trial begins for first seven defendants in $250 million Covid relief funds scam case in Minnesota.

Opening statements are expected on Monday in the fraud trial of seven people charged in what federal prosecutors have called a massive scheme to exploit lax rules during the Covid-19 pandemic and steal from a program meant to provide meals to children in Minnesota. The seven collectively stole more than $40m, costing taxpayers $250m. The money was supposed to provide meals to low-income kids, but was instead spent on luxury items. The scheme involved fake invoices, shell companies, money laundering, passport fraud, and kickbacks. The trial is expected to last about six weeks, with 14 more defendants awaiting trial.

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