A luxury home in Hennepin County once owned by a defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme is now back on the market for $2.1 million — offering a glimpse into where some of the millions in stolen taxpayer dollars went.
Federal prosecutors say the home’s former owner, Feeding Our Future convicted fraudster Hanna Marekegn, obtained more than $7 million from the federal Child Nutrition Program intended to feed children during the pandemic.
Property records show Marekegn purchased the Medina home in 2021 for $1,260,000.
However, records show no mortgage associated with the property at the time of purchase, suggesting the home may have been bought with cash — during the same period she later testified she was “living very large” and the “American Dream life.”
Marekegn later forfeited the home as part of her plea agreement. Property records show the home was sold in 2023 to the current owners.
Luxury home purchased during fraud scheme
The property, located on more than two acres in the exclusive Tuckborough Farms community, is described in real estate listings as a five-bedroom, seven-bathroom luxury home featuring high-end finishes throughout.
Inside, the home features a grand foyer with 18-foot ceilings, a “statement chandelier,” floor-to-ceiling marble, and gold doors. Outside, the property sits on more than two acres and includes a heated in-ground pool.
Those elaborate marble finishes and gold doors are not mentioned in the property’s 2021 listing description. A Twin Cities buyer who previously inquired about the home told Alpha News that a realtor said the luxury upgrades were added while Marekegn lived there.
