A couple from Edwardsville, Illinois, has been arrested and charged with stealing over $7 million from food assistance programs meant to help low-income children in Missouri. Diarra Williams, 30, and Nicholas Warford, 31, were indicted by a federal grand jury on February 26, 2025, on multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and obstruction of an official proceeding.
The charges stem from their involvement in defrauding Missouri’s At-Risk Afterschool and Summer Food Service programs, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, Williams, who ran a nonprofit called The Bailey Foundation, falsely claimed to have served more than 2.2 million meals to children in need.
The couple allegedly used fraudulent invoices to launder money through Warford’s company, Classic Catering LLC, fabricating meal purchases. For example, in April 2021, the couple submitted a fake invoice that reported 208,456 meals were served, each including an eight-ounce milk serving. However, Warford’s company did not buy any milk and spent less than $5,000 on food, despite the fraudulent claim of hundreds of thousands of meals served.
The couple used the stolen funds to purchase a $1.4 million home, luxury vehicles, and to fund lavish vacations, expensive furniture, and tuition payments, among other expenditures. According to the indictment, Williams and Warford’s fraudulent activities took place between March 2020 and July 2022, during which they systematically siphoned funds from the USDA’s food programs meant for children in need.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has sought the forfeiture of the couple’s home and luxury vehicles as part of the case.
The charges against Williams and Warford are still under investigation, and they both plead not guilty. The couple is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
If convicted, they could face severe penalties, as the theft involved significant funds that were intended to help children in need, further complicating the scope of their alleged crimes.
The case highlights the growing concern over fraudulent activities involving government aid, especially during times of crisis when such programs are most needed. The indictment of Williams and Warford represents the ongoing efforts of authorities to address fraud in government-funded programs.
