A charitable organization in Minnesota, known for its role in violence interruption, has disintegrated amid serious allegations of financial misconduct. The leaders of We Push for Peace are accused of misappropriating $6.5 million in charitable funds to support extravagant lifestyles and even finance a private liquor store.
On Friday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a civil lawsuit against the nonprofit and its former executives, Trahern Pollard and Jaclyn McGuigan. The organization, which had secured significant contracts aimed at community outreach and violence prevention, is said to have been undermined by “rampant abuse” and flagrant self-serving actions, according to prosecutors.
The legal complaint alleges that Pollard diverted more than $6 million of the charity’s funds for personal gain. Rather than benefiting the community, this money reportedly bankrolled his lavish lifestyle, including luxury trips to Las Vegas, high-end vehicles, and extravagant shopping sprees at places like a Harley Davidson showroom and spa boutiques.
Further accusations claim Pollard misused the nonprofit’s resources to cover personal expenses, such as child support, an IRS tax bill, and to support his private ventures, including a used car dealership and a liquor store.
Meanwhile, McGuigan, who served as the charity’s treasurer, is accused of transferring $1,000 weekly from the nonprofit’s funds into her personal account. She allegedly misappropriated additional thousands from government grants, under the guise of “administrative” costs.
McGuigan, who acted as the charity’s treasurer, allegedly transferred a recurring $1,000 per week of nonprofit funds into her own personal account and stole thousands more in government grant funds that she claimed were for “administrative” expenses.
“Instead of helping the community, they helped themselves to millions of dollars that should have gone into the community,” Ellison wrote in a statement.
Prosecutors noted that when the City of Minneapolis requested the nonprofit’s assistance during Operation Metro Surge, a major Homeland Security enforcement operation in Minnesota, the once-multimillion-dollar organization was “utterly incapable” of answering the call.
When state investigators began closing in, Pollard allegedly submitted false statements under the penalty of perjury, falsely claiming a child support payment was “nonprofit overhead” and that a $35,000 payout to his personal friends was “Chicago payroll.”
To justify the missing millions, prosecutors claim Pollard quickly incorporated a fake “for-profit arm” of the charity just days after the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office began asking questions.
He also allegedly set up another new, for-profit corporation called “Change Makers” to drain the nonprofit’s remaining revenue and diverted lucrative community liaison contracts, including a deal with Whole Foods, away from the charity and straight into his newly formed private company, according to court documents.
