The indictment says the defendants also used AFM money as a means of supporting a local candidate for Walton County Sheriff in 2008. They allegedly issued bonuses to employees, then told the employees to financially support the candidate with the bonus money they were given. The Walton Tribune identifies the candidate as Al Yarborough, who did not succeed at becoming elected as sheriff that year.
Linda Wingo allegedly tried to cover up all of the defendants' illegal activity too, once it was discovered they were being investigated by the FBI. The indictment claims she either tried “to persuade witnesses not to talk with law enforcement” or simply advised them to make sure they couldn't be located by law enforcement agents.
Linda Wingo is also accused of telling an employee to remove and destroy the hard drive of a computer in order to hinder the federal grand jury investigation even further.
The illegal activity the defendants are said to have participated in started as far back as January 2003, prosecutors say.
If the Wingos are convicted, they will be forced to forfeit any property they've obtained illegally and will have to give back a large sum of money which has yet to be determined. Joe Wingo could potentially receive a 105-year prison sentence if convicted on all counts, while his wife faces a potential 85-year sentence.
"The Wingos feel, when all is said and done, that they will be vindicated," Edward Tolley, the attorney for Linda Wingo, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "That's how they feel. They ran this ministry for a number of years and they fed a lot of people. They're very disappointed to be included in this indictment."
Tolley did not immediately respond to attempts made by The Christian Post to reach him for comment on Monday.
AFM was founded in 1994 and served as a food ministry to needy families, offering boxes of discounted food at prices that were more affordable than most retail stores. The ministry was forced to shut down in September, however, citing the poor economy and its struggle to afford operational costs.
AFM once sold food to approximately 500,000 families a month, some who heavily depended on the ministry to afford groceries. The ministry also laid off 90 full-time staff members as it closed down.
Joe and Linda Wingo “appeared in shackles” when they stood before federal magistrate judge Charles H. Weigle on Friday, 13WMAZ reports. The Wingos, who were joined in the courtroom by about a dozen members of their church, were released on $20,000 bond each after appearing before the judge.
Barry Bowen contributed to this report
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