Angel Food Ministries corporate office is searched by FBI and IRS
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Angel Food orders and distributions in Lyon County will continue this month, unaffected by a Federal Bureau of Investigation search warrant executed at Angel Food Ministries headquarters in Monroe, Ga., last month, as well as a civil lawsuit and a grand jury investigation into the ministries. AFM’s mailing address is in Good Hope, Ga.
The ministry’s founder and chief executive officer, Joe Wingo, last month sent out a letter to churches involved in Angel Food distributions in 39 states to notify them that the ministry’s office had been searched by FBI agents.
The Walton Tribune of Monroe, Ga., reported last month that the FBI and Internal Revenue Service officials executed search warrants at the Broad Street offices of Angel Food Ministries and at a business owned by Andy Wingo, a former officer of Angel Food and current owner of Good Hope Food Company.
“Ministry representatives have indicated in published reports the authorities copied information off of computers during their time at the Broad Street offices but that no computers or other documents were removed,” the Tribune article stated.
The article quoted Wingo as saying the search warrant was not a new development.
“Over the past six months, and as recently as a week prior to a search warrant being issued, AFM had offered its full cooperation in the investigation and voluntarily agreed to provide any records the government wished to examine,” the Tribune quoted Joe Wingo as saying.
“Angel Food spokesmen have also indicated in published reports they believe the federal authorities are investigating an individual or individuals connected to the organization and not the ministry itself or its host sites,” the Tribune article stated.
AFM on Saturday sent out another e-mail to its distribution centers, including Emporia, to say that two of the organization’s employees had filed a civil suit against the ministry. A grand jury investigation also is underway involving the ministry, the e-mail stated.
Saturday’s e-mail was not signed, but was sent from the Angel Food Ministries Web site. The e-mail alleged that the two AFM directors who initiated the lawsuit “are interested in removing the founders of the ministry — Pastors Joe and Linda Wingo — only to install themselves in the founders (sic) place. This is a power grab plain and simple, and the people of Walton County (Ga.) and those who look to Angel Food Ministries for relief need to understand what and who are actually behind this effort.”
The ministry was founded in 1994 by the Wingos, who are pastors of Emmanuel Praise Church in Monroe, Ga.
A message left Monday for the clerk of the Walton County Superior Court, where the lawsuit was filed, was not returned by press time today.
Information about the lawsuit, however, was available from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Reporter Christopher Quinn wrote that more than 200 churches in the Atlanta metro area participate in Angel Food distributions.
The lawsuit was filed by David Prather, an employee and member of the board of directors of AFM, and Craig Atnip, who was identified as an unpaid director on a 2006 income tax filing by AFM.
Quinn’s report listed five allegations from the lawsuit:
• Atnip and Prather talked to agents and a federal prosecutor about the raid and testified before a federal grand jury about the Wingos, who have hired criminal defense attorneys with Angel Food money.
• The Wingos enriched themselves by at least $2.7 million, including $600,000 they directed from Angel Food to their church. The money allegedly was given to the Wingos for a housing allowance.
• Andy Wingo, food buyer for Angel Food Ministries, took kickbacks from food buyers, and other family members knew about it.
• Joe Wingo set up a North Carolina corporation to buy a personal jet, then leased the jet to Angel Food Ministries for a profit of $10,000 a month.
• The Wingos spent more than $850,000 for personal goods using Angel Food credit cards.
The Journal-Constitution story reported that Juda Engelmayer, a spokesman for Angel Food, said that “the allegations are false.”
A representative of the ministry did not return The Gazette’s telephone call on Monday and had not responded today by press time.
The e-mail from Angel Food Ministries on Saturday stated that the ministry is a $140 million organization that was “the brainchild” of the Wingos. The ministry employs 300 people full-time and had a payroll exceeding $1 million in 2008, according to the e-mail.
Wesley J. (Joe) Wingo had received $588,529 in compensation in 2006 for serving as chief executive officer, vice president and director for AFM, according to the organization’s tax filing under Section 501(c)(3). Linda Wingo’s salary for that year as vice CEO, secretary and director, was $544,043.
A person listed as L.M. Wingo was paid $384,694 for being manager. Andrew Wingo received $529,014 for his work as treasurer and director, and Wesley Wingo was paid $454,673 for being president and a director.
One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, David A. Prather, received $62,740 as “R.E. Manager” and director for 2006. The four other directors on the board were not paid for their services.
The four Wingos apparently received loans from the ministry, with a total balance due of $662,814 at the end of the year.
At least three corporations listing either Joe or Linda Wingo as officials also owed debts to the ministry, according to the 2006 filing.
Emmanuel Praise Church, owned by the Wingo family, owed $2,869 at the end of the year, Good Hope Construction owed $3,814, and Good Hope Transportation owed $772,358 to AFM.
A fourth corporation — Good Hope Food Co. — owed $1,166 to AFM. According to records in the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, Andrew L. Wingo is CEO, chief financial officer and secretary of the corporation.
The ministry had a $6,613,261 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the end of 2006, the forms showed.
In 2007, the Wingos’ salaries dropped considerably. Wesley Joseph Wingo received $164,937.74 plus $5,474.54 in benefits or deferred compensation. Linda Wingo, secretary and director, received $54,723.34; Jonathan Wesley Wingo received $71,683.87 in salary and $2,615.36 in benefits or deferred compensation. Andrew Wingo was paid $110,754 to be chief operating officer.
In 2007, Prather received $99,375 to be R.E. manager and director and $98,390 for work as a consultant.
The director of aviation was paid $62,577 in 2007.
The four Wingos owed the ministry $1,098,146 at the end of that year for monies borrowed from AFM.
Good Hope Transportation owed a balance of $1,097,378 at the end of 2007. Emmanuel Praise Church owed $54,199; Good Hope Food Company, $0.
Linjoe LLC also is listed as owing money to AFM. The original loan was for $246,146. At the beginning of the year, the balance remaining on the loan was $38,397; by the end of the year, the balance was $81,561.
Records at the Georgia Secretary of State’s office do not show officers’ names for Linjoe LLC. However, the address given as the principal office is 1620 S. Broad Street, Monroe, Ga., the same address as Angel Food Ministries.
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Posted by madpoet (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is exactly why "greed" is one of the 7 deadly sins. This situation (if it turns out true) writ large is why the US economy in in the tank.
Posted by kublue2007 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No matter what is going on at the company headquarters, they are still providing a great service to families of all walks of life the oppurtunity to purchase food at a low cost. I hope that oppurtunity will not be taken away in the future!!!
Posted by wthomas (anonymous) on March 4, 2009 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The food “safety net” in the United States is in trouble. Food banks are not keeping pace with demand, and I’ve read that some food banks are turning hungry people away. At the same time, Angel Food is feeding half a million families a month. In my community, I volunteer half a Saturday each month distributing groceries at our local Angel Food host site. I can tell you that Angel Food is much needed. So I am saying that, as we see news stories, please remember that Angel Food is effective in helping people at a time of great need.
Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on March 4, 2009 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This post is not meant to chastize anyone for their personal beliefs I just wanted to share the info. Up until about a month ago I did not know this.
Although, it is a good rule of thumb to try and not commit one of "The 7 Deadly Sins" There really is no such thing. (unless you're Catholic that is) This list was made up in "590 AD, by Pope Gregory Codified 7 Sins List." I just watched a big thing on the History Channel about it. This list is not in the Bible. All sins are deadly in the end without repentance one not really being any worse than the other. In my last sentence it is meant that any and all will wind your a$$ up in H&ll if you don't repent and humble yourself before God. According the Christian faith. Before I get chastized for my post. Yes, I do realize that society sees them differently. Yes, I think there should be different punishment for murder as opposed to theft. But in God's eyes if you don't repent to Him, you wind up in the same place no matter which one ya did.
Here are a couple urls to look at if anyone is so enclined to do so.
http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/religion...
http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/faq/se...
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 4, 2009 at 6:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems this is getting more and more common with the "good" works churches do. Just one more reason why this country's economy is such a mess -- even churches are busily setting up scams like this. Yes, it's a scam for more and more millions of cash flow. They get the food donated, get volunteers to do all the work of setting up, then they get to reap the rewards. Tax free too. Oh yeah! Hallelujah!
Posted by wthomas (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I understand. Remember that we don’t know all the facts. Be careful not to let your tongue or your written words stir up dissension. The right thing is to pray for Angel Food.
Posted by wesleyworker (anonymous) on March 5, 2009 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't be too quick to bad mouth the churches, they are only in the AF program to help folks, not to make money (unlike the players in this story).
We spend far more than we make @ $1.00 a box. All I will say is look around, there are many more 'food distribution programs' out there. Check them out, ask questions, then use your own good judgment whether to stick with AF or find a program that believes as you do and is truly trying to help feed those who need help. (we did).
Posted by wthomas (anonymous) on March 6, 2009 at 3:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LAWSUIT DISMISSED - JOE WINGO REMAINS CEO OF ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES
March 6, 2009, Monroe, GA: A lawsuit filed last Friday in the Walton County Superior Court by two former board members of Angel Food Ministries that sought to have the Wingo family removed from the helm and from the premises of the organization, was dismissed today.
At a brief hearing before Superior Court Judge John M. Ott, an agreement was reached and the suit was dismissed. Joseph Wingo remains the chairman and CEO and the Wingo family, who founded the ministry and devoted their lives to see it grow, remain at the helm.
Further details of the agreement will be released at a later date.
Amidst the news of the lawsuit, Angel Food Ministries continued to feed anyone who asks, reaching a milestone February 2009, distributing 530 thousand food boxes. It will continue serving a crucial need, feeding anyone who asks.
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 6, 2009 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wingo family corporations interwoven with AFM sounds fishy to me. And what about this --"The ministry had a $6,613,261 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the end of 2006, the forms showed." How much of that has been paid back. That's MY MONEY!!! Sorry, these people and their private plane etc are using this as a money making scheme. It will eventually come out in the open, just as Jim Baker's and others schemes did.
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