Angel Food officials indicted, to surrender, lawyer says

By Shelia M. Poole

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The founders of Angel Food Ministries, a Monroe-based nonprofit group that dispersed discounted food nationwide before closing in September, have been indicted by a federal grand jury and will surrender to authorities, an attorney for one of the founders said.

Linda Wingo, her husband Wesley Joseph Wingo and their son Andy Wingo on Friday will turn themselves into federal officials in Macon and appear before a U.S. magistrate, said Edward Tolley, an Athens attorney who represents Linda Wingo.

Tolley, however, did not know what charge or charges had been levied against his client or the others, who include a fourth person who isn't a family member, the lawyer said. The U.S. Attorney's office in Macon could not be reached for comment.

"The Wingos feel, when all is said and done, that they will be vindicated," Tolley said. "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."

Angel Food Ministries was a 17-year nonprofit that supplied food to people in 45 states and closed in the fall, citing increased costs for food, fuel and operations.  A full-time staff of 90 people was laid off.

When it ceased operation, the nonprofit organization faced an ongoing federal investigation and a lawsuit filed years before by Angel Food board members; the latter questioned money that was paid to Wingo family members.

Board members Craig Atnip and David A. Prather alleged in the suit that the Wingos improperly used company credit cards on personal items, among other claims.

Also, a transportation company owned by Angel Food Ministries and a church created by Angel Food founders either shut down operations or had them sharply curtailed.

Staff writer Christopher Quinn contributed to this article.