Minnesota nonprofit accused of siphoning $6.5M to fund Vegas trips, luxury cars, private liquor store
The head of a Minnesota nonprofit allegedly siphoned off more than $6 million in taxpayer funds to treat himself to such lavish goodies as trips to Vegas, luxury rides and shopping sprees at Harley Davidson.
Trahern Pollard, founder and now-former director of the nonprofit We Push For Peace, was supposed to be leading his organization in providing “conflict de-escalation’’ work after George Floyd’s murder — an effort fueled by millions of dollars in government contracts, according to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in a new lawsuit against the group.
Instead, Pollard diverted more than $6 million of the dough to fund a well-heeled lifestyle for himself — not to mention to pay off child support, settle a tax bill with the IRS and subsidize his private businesses, including a liquor store and a used-car dealership, authorities said.
Pollard’s fellow former director, Jaclyn McGuigan, also was nailed in the alleged scheme.
McGuigan, the charity’s treasurer, paid herself $1,000 a week from the nonprofit’s funds into her personal account while stealing thousands of dollars more in government grant funds as “administrative” expenses, according to prosecutors.
“Instead of helping the community, they helped themselves to millions of dollars that should have gone into the community,” Ellison said in a statement.
When the AG started investigating how the group spent its public cash, Pollard and McGuigan tried to cover up their misconduct, according to the lawsuit.
After We Push For Peace eventually elected a new board and blocked Pollard from receiving more money, so he just started a competing for-profit business, Change Makers, to drain its remaining revenue, leaving the group no longer operational, according to court documents.
Pollard allegedly submitted false statements under penalty of perjury, claiming a child-support payment was “nonprofit overhead” and describing a $35,000 payout to his personal friends as “Chicago payroll.”
In all, Pollard is accused of misusing $6 million in assets for his personal gain, while McGuigan allegedly took $500,000, although the lawsuit said the exact amounts are uncertain.
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