Andrew M. Luger, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota
Sharon Denise Ross, a 54-year-old resident of Willernie, Minnesota, has been sentenced to 43 months in prison for her involvement in a $250 million fraud scheme that misused funds from a federal child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. In addition to her prison term, Ross will undergo three years of supervised release and must pay restitution amounting to $2,434,360. She is also required to forfeit all property obtained through fraudulent means, including her house.
Ross faced charges in a 12-count indictment on March 7, 2023, which included wire fraud and money laundering related to the Federal Child Nutrition Program scam. On January 10, 2024, she pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Court documents revealed that Ross served as the executive director of House of Refuge Twin Cities—a non-profit organization based in St. Paul—which she registered under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Partners in Nutrition for participation in the Federal Child Nutrition Program. Ross falsely claimed that House of Refuge operated food distribution sites across several locations within the Twin Cities area and reported serving meals provided by Brava Café, a Minneapolis restaurant managed by Hanna Marakegn. Between September 2021 and February 2022, she deceitfully reported serving thousands of children daily at various sites, including churches. Overall, she falsely claimed nearly 900,000 meals were served and received about $2.4 million from the program's funds fraudulently.
Ross allocated substantial sums to family members and financed personal expenses such as vacations to Florida and Las Vegas with the illicit funds; she also purchased a suite at a Minnesota Timberwolves game and bought her house using these proceeds.
Judge Nancy E. Brasel remarked during sentencing that Ross “used a position of trust in the community” for personal enrichment described as "flagrant." Judge Brasel emphasized that acquiring significant fraudulent gains rapidly while already on probation for another offense further aggravated Ross's crime.
The investigation into this case involved collaboration between the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations Division, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Harry M. Jacobs, Matthew S. Ebert, and Daniel W. Bobier from Minnesota’s District Office; asset seizure oversight falls under Assistant U.S Attorney Craig Baune’s responsibility.
