Ellison sues nonprofit for allegedly spending funds from gov't contracts on trips, luxury items

A Minnesota nonprofit that received millions of dollars in public funding for community violence prevention is accused in a new state lawsuit of diverting more than $6.5 million to finance luxury purchases, personal businesses and lavish travel instead of serving the public mission it was created to support.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed the lawsuit against the nonprofit We Push for Peace and two of its former leaders, Trahern Pollard and Jaclyn McGuigan, alleging widespread misuse of charitable assets and taxpayer-funded grants.

According to the complaint, the nonprofit received millions of dollars in government contracts after the 2020 killing of George Floyd to support violence interruption and conflict de-escalation efforts in Minneapolis communities. 

Prosecutors alleged that most of the money was spent on personal expenses, including trips to Las Vegas, luxury vehicles, shopping sprees and private business ventures such as a liquor store and a used-car dealership.