A former nonprofit executive was sentenced on March 10 to 16 years in prison and ordered to repay $19.7 million after being convicted of stealing funds from a program intended to feed low-income children in Missouri.
Connie Bobo, 46, served as the executive director of New Heights Community Resource Center, which received money to provide meals for school-age children after school and during the summer. According to U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus, “Connie Bobo’s trial clearly showed that this was the largest public assistance and pandemic fraud in state history.” Albus said, “Hungry children were turned away when Bobo’s distribution events ran out of food, all because she was spending public money on luxury goods, real estate and an extravagant vehicle.”
Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division said, “Connie Bobo’s greed is beyond reprehensible. She stole millions of dollars meant to feed low-income children in our community.” Crocker added, “Instead of helping hungry kids, she used that money to buy a $1 million home, a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, and four additional properties—all of which the FBI has now seized. Those stolen funds from a taxpayer-funded program could have provided meals for children across Missouri.”
According to a sentencing memorandum filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman, Bobo began her fraudulent activities at the outset of her participation in the state’s meal program for children by submitting false enrollment documents and creating fake board members and bylaws designed to secure funding from Missouri authorities. Evidence presented at trial showed that between 2019 and 2022, Bobo submitted hundreds of fraudulent reimbursement claims and spent millions on personal luxury items including homes for relatives and expensive vehicles.
The court found that while Bobo received $19.7 million in state reimbursement funds, only $6.8 million was actually spent on food and milk; all funds were deemed fraudulently obtained due to her initial misrepresentation when enrolling in the program. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Bobo increased her fraudulent activity as more children were out of school and not receiving regular meals.
Bobo was convicted by a jury on three counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and two counts of obstruction of an official proceeding following a three-day trial in October.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek Wiseman and Jonathan Clow.
