Waiting for Trial Is Not Waiting Time: What the Minnesota COVID Fraud Case Teaches Defendants

The Feeding Our Future fraud case in Minnesota exposed something deeper than financial theft. As FBI Director Kash Patel put it, this was “as shameless as it gets”—$250 million meant to feed hungry children during a pandemic was diverted into mansions, luxury cars, and fake food sites. Families who relied on those meals were left with nothing.

That’s the damage prosecutors will present in court. And they won’t just be focused on the money—they’ll highlight the human cost.

For defendants awaiting trial, here’s the hard truth: the government is building a case to show the damage you caused — and you need to build a case showing what you’ve done to take responsibility and make things right. Sitting back and waiting is a mistake. This is the time to prepare, document your efforts, and prove you’re more than the charges against you.

In federal court, judges weigh more than evidence of guilt. They weigh conduct after the fact: Did the defendant take responsibility? Did they work to understand the impact of their actions? Did they use the time under indictment to prepare for something better?

A personal release plan is how you show — in clear, concrete steps — what you’ve done to take responsibility, how you’re addressing the harm caused, and why you’re ready to return to the community.

Michael Santos pioneered the Release Plan Workbook, a tool he donated to thousands of federal prisoners to help them document their progress. That strategy has become the standard. A release plan isn’t a last-minute statement. It’s an ongoing, detailed record showing what you’ve been doing to repair your life, rebuild relationships, and contribute positively, even before sentencing.

In cases like Feeding Our Future, where prosecutors are laying out evidence of fraud that stripped resources from children, you can’t walk into court with vague apologies or general statements of regret. Judges and probation officers will look for concrete documentation: program completions, written reflections, financial plans, letters of accountability.

Today, platforms like PrisonProfessorsTalent.com give defendants a place to publicly share their release plans and show real, documented progress. This isn’t just paperwork for sentencing — it’s proof of consistent effort that can influence decisions later, like home confinement referrals or earning Second Chance Act credits.

The Feeding Our Future case has already led to new laws in Minnesota. But for the people facing charges, waiting on lawmakers won’t change their situation. They need to focus on personal change now — and they need to back it up with clear, documented actions that show they’re taking responsibility.

Prosecutors are building their file—with invoices, records, and testimony. Defendants must build theirs—with proof of accountability, preparation, and meaningful change.

Join our webinar every Tuesday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern to learn how to build, document, and publish a release plan that shows you’re taking responsibility and are prepared for the road ahead. You can also schedule a personal call with our team to get one-on-one guidance for your specific situation.

Justin Paperny

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