They Helped Themselves to Millions of Dollars That Should Have Gone Into the Community

Minnesota nonprofit accused of siphoning $6.5M to fund Vegas trips, luxury cars, private liquor store https://t.co/ZCCN4jgiIu pic.twitter.com/9o3m2wFa2K

— New York Post (@nypost) May 10, 2026

The head of a Minnesota nonprofit allegedly siphoned off more than $6 million in taxpayer funds to treat himself to such lavish goodies as trips to Vegas, luxury rides and shopping sprees at Harley Davidson.

Trahern Pollard, founder and now-former director of the nonprofit We Push For Peace, was supposed to be leading his organization in providing “conflict de-escalation’’ work after George Floyd’s murder — an effort fueled by millions of dollars in government contracts, according to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in a new lawsuit against the group.

Instead, Pollard diverted more than $6 million of the dough to fund a well-heeled lifestyle for himself — not to mention to pay off child support, settle a tax bill with the IRS and subsidize his private businesses, including a liquor store and a used-car dealership, authorities said.

McGuigan, the charity’s treasurer, paid herself $1,000 a week from the nonprofit’s funds into her personal account while stealing thousands of dollars more in government grant funds as “administrative” expenses, according to prosecutors.

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

After Floyd’s murder at the hands of cops in 2020, We Push For Peace received millions of dollars in government contracts to try to de-escalate regional conflict and interrupt violence when police weren’t present.