A former Missouri nonprofit executive was sentenced Monday for orchestrating what prosecutors are calling the “largest public assistance and pandemic fraud in state history,” stealing nearly $20 million from a program meant to feed low-income children.
A federal judge sentenced Connie Bobo, 46, of St. Charles to 16 years in federal prison and ordered her to repay $19.7 million.
Bobo served as executive director of the New Heights Community Resource Center in Bridgeton. The nonprofit received state funds to give meals to kids after school and during the summer.
Prosecutors say Bobo fraudulently obtained reimbursement funds by creating fake board members, fake training sessions and fake bylaws in 2018 to induce Missouri to provide her with meal money. She went on to file hundreds of false meal reimbursement claims between 2019 and 2022.
Evidence presented at trial showed Bobo got $19.7 million through the program but only spent $6.8 million on food and milk.
She used the rest of the money to buy herself a $1 million home, a $200,000 Mercedes-Benz G550 Wagon for a partner, and five properties.
One of the properties was a $2.2 million commercial building (see below), which served as headquarters for New Heights Community Resource Center.
The FBI seized all of it.
“Connie Bobo’s trial clearly showed that this was the largest public assistance and pandemic fraud in state history,” U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus said in a statement.
“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.”
FBI St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker didn’t hold back describing Bobo’s greed.
“Connie Bobo’s greed is beyond reprehensible. She stole millions of dollars meant to feed low-income children in our community,” Crocker said.
“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.”
