Update: Angel Food Founders Charged

Updated 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2

According to several media outlets the Wingo family that founded a nationwide food distribution ministry face 49 federal charges including fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundry.

Pastor Joe Wingo, his wife Linda, son Andy and a business associate, Harry Michaels, were indicted this week following a grand jury investigation. The Wingos were reportedly expected to turn themselves in to federal authorities in Macon today. According to Sue McKinney, a spokesperson with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Macon, the Wingos are scheduled to go before Federal Judge Charles Weigle at 2:30 p.m. Friday for a first appearance.

The story first broke on The Walton Tribune Thursday evening when it was reported that a grand jury had handed down the indictment. I, blaming the downturn in the economy. However, the ministry had been under a federal investigation since 2009. The York Daily Mail ran an indepth story in June 2009 outlining some of the Angel Food practices that prompted the investigation.

Angel Food Ministries was started in Walton County in 1994 and grew to a ministry that served more than 500,000 families nationwide. The low cost food boxes were distributed through local churches.