January 1, Minnesota ‘Peace’ Nonprofit EXPOSED: Millions in Taxpayer Funds Blown on Shocking Personal Indulgence

Wyatt’s Take

• A Minnesota ‘violence prevention’ charity collapsed after leaders allegedly looted $6.5 million meant for struggling communities to fund lavish Vegas trips, luxury cars, and even a private liquor store.
• While Minneapolis begged for help during a major security operation, the once-multimillion-dollar nonprofit was ‘utterly incapable’ of responding — because the money was already gone.
• This is yet another massive fraud scheme emerging from Minnesota, where government grants and nonprofit cash have become a feeding trough for well-connected insiders who know how to game the system.

A Minnesota nonprofit founded to stop violence in struggling communities has imploded after its leaders allegedly stole $6.5 million in charitable funds. Instead of helping neighbors, they bankrolled luxury lifestyles and personal business ventures.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a civil lawsuit Friday against We Push for Peace and its former directors, Trahern Pollard and Jaclyn McGuigan. The organization held lucrative government contracts for community outreach and violence prevention — all while its leaders allegedly drained the coffers dry.

According to prosecutors, Pollard personally pocketed more than $6 million of the diverted funds. Instead of investing in at-risk youth or neighborhood safety, the charity’s money allegedly paid for trips to Las Vegas, high-end vehicles, shopping sprees at Harley Davidson dealerships, and spa treatments.

Pollard is also accused of using nonprofit money to pay off his own child support obligations, settle a personal IRS tax bill, and prop up his private for-profit businesses — including a used car dealership and a liquor store.

McGuigan, who served as the charity’s treasurer, allegedly set up a recurring $1,000-per-week transfer from nonprofit accounts directly into her personal bank account. She also stole thousands more in government grant funds under the guise of “administrative expenses,” prosecutors say.

“Instead of helping the community, they helped themselves to millions of dollars that should have gone into the community,” Ellison wrote in a statement.

When the City of Minneapolis desperately requested the nonprofit’s help during Operation Metro Surge — a major Homeland Security enforcement operation targeting gang violence — the organization was “utterly incapable” of responding. Why? Because the money was already gone.

As state investigators closed in, Pollard allegedly submitted false statements under penalty of perjury. He falsely claimed a child support payment was “nonprofit overhead” and tried to pass off a $35,000 payout to personal friends as “Chicago payroll.”

To cover his tracks and justify the missing millions, prosecutors say Pollard quickly created a fake “for-profit arm” of the charity — just days after the Attorney General’s Office started asking questions.

He also allegedly formed another new company called “Change Makers” to siphon off the nonprofit’s remaining revenue. Lucrative community contracts, including a partnership with Whole Foods, were diverted away from the charity and funneled straight into Pollard’s newly formed private company, according to court documents.

Why It Matters

This isn’t an isolated incident. Minnesota has become ground zero for massive nonprofit and government grant fraud — schemes that exploit taxpayer generosity and leave struggling communities worse off than before. When insiders abuse the system, real people suffer. Families counting on violence prevention programs got nothing. Neighborhoods crying out for help during federal enforcement operations were left high and dry. And hardworking Americans who fund these programs through their taxes watched their money vanish into private pockets. It’s time for accountability, transparency, and an end to the revolving door of fraud that’s turned Minnesota into a national embarrassment.