Food stamp fraud charges filed against men's homeless shelter director

Pastor alleged to have misued "Quest", "Food Share" benefits

GREEN BAY (WFRV) When "Transformation House" opened it's doors, Pastor Manuelus Reacco called it a place to help homeless men turned away by other shelters. By requiring clients to find work to cover the 75-dollar a month rent, it would also help them become independent. But a Brown County Sheriff's Department Investigation found that such help came at a price, especially for "Quest" card and "Food Share" recipients,

"He would inform you at that time that some of the proceeds, at least half, would go toward feeding everybody at the house. Not for the individual," said Brown County Sheriff's Captain Dave Konrath.

That amounted to between one-hundred and one-hundred-ten dollars per person. Investigators say Manuelus made unauthorized purchases.

"He would use the "Quest" card to go to "Sam's Wholesale" and purchase some items there, which coincidentally, were used in a fundraiser two-days later," Konrath said.

Pastor Reacco declined Local 5's request for an on camera interview. But he told us off camera the allegations against him and "Transformation House" are false.

Reacco says clients were never required to share their benefits with the shelter. He adds staff would buy and cook food for clients. Reacco also says the shelter at times covered costs for clients who were awaiting pay checks. But investigators say clients felt they had no choice but to share their benefits.

"They felt that if they didn't comply with his wishes, that they would not have a roof over their heads," said Capt. Konrath.