United States v. Melvin R. Jennings

GARWOOD, Circuit Judge:

This is an appeal from a judgment of conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 287 1 for making false claims to an agency of the United States government. The claims involved were those on behalf of an organization known as South People, Inc. (SPI) presented to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Mississippi State Department of Education (SDOE), for reimbursement for meals served to children under the Child Care Food Program, see 42 U.S.C. § 1776. Appellant Melvin R. Jennings was charged in a twelve-count indictment with making, presenting, and causing to…