A Minneapolis business consultant and non-profit executive has pleaded guilty to leading a massive fraud scheme that stole over $6 million from federal, state, and private organizations. Tezzaree El-Amin Champion, 28, admitted in court that he submitted fake applications for grants, contracts, and loans through two organizations he controlled. His fraudulent activities lasted from 2020 to 2024 and resulted in a huge financial loss.
Champion was the founder and leader of a non-profit organization called Encouraging Leaders and also owned a marketing business called Futuristic Management LLC. Through these two entities, he submitted at least 42 applications filled with false information to different government agencies and private organizations. He lied about his non-profit’s board members, faked independent audits, and even claimed to have hosted events that never happened. His goal was to trick these organizations into giving him money.
Champion successfully obtained $1.5 million in funding through these lies. However, instead of using the money for the community, he transferred large amounts to himself and spent it on personal expenses. His fraudulent activities targeted the U.S. Department of Justice, Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis, and multiple other organizations, including the Center for Disease Control Foundation, the Minnesota Department of Education, and Greater Twin Cities United Way.
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Fraudulent Business Loans and Stolen Relief Funds
Champion didn’t stop at non-profit fraud. Through his marketing company, Futuristic Management, he helped others commit fraud as well. He assisted his clients in applying for fraudulent COVID-19 relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, and Hennepin County’s Small Business Relief (SBR) grants. These programs were meant to help struggling businesses during the pandemic, but Champion saw them as an opportunity to make money illegally.
He helped applicants fake their incomes, expenses, and tax records to qualify for large loans. He even created fake lease agreements to make businesses appear more legitimate. Champion personally submitted nine fake applications for himself, pocketing money that was meant for struggling businesses.
At the same time, Futuristic Management had a contract with Hennepin County’s Elevate Business program, which was designed to provide free marketing services to small businesses. However, Champion tricked both the county and his clients by charging both parties. He billed Hennepin County for services that his clients had already paid him for, effectively getting paid twice for the same work.
Champion also scammed PayPal Business Loan and WebBank by submitting false bank statements that inflated his company’s income and balance. Through these fake applications, he stole an additional $2.1 million.
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Illegal Firearm and Court Proceedings
Law enforcement officials eventually caught on to Champion’s scheme and began investigating his finances. When they searched his home, they found financial records from Futuristic Management, a safe containing $127,000 in cash, and a Ruger LCR .357 revolver.
The discovery of the firearm led to another serious charge. Champion had a 2018 felony conviction for second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, making it illegal for him to own or possess any firearm. However, forensic testing confirmed that his DNA was on the weapon, proving he had handled it.
On Wednesday, Champion appeared in U.S. District Court and pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and illegal firearm possession. He agreed to pay at least $3.47 million in restitution to the victims of his fraud. His co-defendant, Marcus A. Hamilton, also pleaded guilty earlier this month for his role in the scheme.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the IRS-Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minneapolis Police Department’s Special Crimes Investigations Division.
The sentencing hearings for Champion and Hamilton will be scheduled at a later date.
