FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged the ongoing fraud scandal involving child care centers in Minnesota, saying it has been part of a lengthy investigation and will remain a top priority.
A video by YouTube journalist Nick Shirley went viral over the weekend after he confronted an employee at an alleged Minnesota tutoring center that was receiving millions in aid despite showing no signs of operational activity, Breitbart News reports.
In a post on X, Kash Patel said that the FBI is investigating the situation.
“The FBI is aware of the recent social media reports in Minnesota. However, even before the public conversation increased online, the FBI had increased personnel and investigative resources in Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes that exploit federal programs. Fraud that steals from taxpayers and preys on vulnerable children will remain a top priority for the FBI in Minnesota and across the country,” he said.
Patel then said the FBI had “dismantled a $250 million fraud scheme that stole federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during COVID.”
He further said, “The investigation revealed large-scale money laundering involving fake vendors, shell companies and the Feeding Our Future Network.” “The case resulted in 78 indictments and 57 convictions. The defendants included Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohammed, Ahmed Ali, Hussein Farah, Abdullah Noor Jesso, Asha Farhan Hassan, Osman Camara and Abdirashid Bixi Dool, each charged with roles ranging from wire fraud to money laundering and conspiracy.”
Patel concluded that these plans were “just the tip of a very large iceberg.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson also revealed earlier this month that half of the $18 billion in federal welfare funds that support 14 programs run by Minnesota since 2018 has been lost to fraud.
“Minnesota has become a magnet for fraud, so much so that we have developed a fraudulent tourism industry – people come to our state solely to take advantage of its programs and commit fraud,” Thompson said. “This is a deeply troubling reality that all Minnesotans must understand.”
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