https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/stl-nonprofit-leaders-accused-of-7m-school-meal-fraud-money-laundering-conspiracy/

A couple who ran a local nonprofit was arrested today after being accused in an indictment that claims they stole over $7 million that was meant to feed disadvantaged children in Missouri.

Diarra Williams, 30, and Nicholas Warford, 31, both from Edwardsville, Illinois, were indicted on Feb. 26 with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of obstruction of an official proceeding.

According to the indictment, the Edwardsville couple defrauded Missouri’s At-Risk Afterschool Program and Summer Food Service, both funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Williams led a nonprofit organization called “The Bailey Foundation” and claimed that it served over 2.2 million meals, the indictment states. The indictment alleges that the couple laundered the money and created fake invoices that showed fraudulent meal purchases from a company owned by Warford’s Classic Catering LLC.

According to the indictment, these schemes by Williams and Warford lasted from March 2020 up until July 2022.

With some of the funds, the indictment claims that the pair bought a $1.4 million house in Edwardsville; a 2018 Lincoln Navigator; a 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel pickup; a 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter; a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica and two 2021 Ram ProMaster vans.

“The defendants are accused of stealing money meant to feed low-income school-aged children and using the funds to live a lavish lifestyle. It’s hard to put into words how egregious these accusations are,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation St. Louis Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “But this arrest means their actions have been disrupted and they can now be held accountable.”