{"id":2530982,"date":"2026-01-07T12:40:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T17:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-sends-prosecutors-to-minnesota-amid-fraud-investigation\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T12:42:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T17:42:46","slug":"doj-sends-prosecutors-to-minnesota-amid-fraud-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-sends-prosecutors-to-minnesota-amid-fraud-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ sends prosecutors to Minnesota amid fraud investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-sends-prosecutors-to-minnesota-amid-fraud-investigation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2530982&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Justice Department is sending additional federal prosecutors to Minnesota to bolster an expanding inquiry into <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >alleged pandemic-era fraud tied<\/a> to nonprofits, child care, and Medicaid programs, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced. The probe began with the Feeding Our Future case, a Minnesota-based nonprofit accused in 2022 of exploiting federal child nutrition programs in a scheme then estimated at about $250 million, and has since widened to include alleged juror bribery, health-care fraud, and misuse of Medicaid-funded programs such as Housing Stabilization Services and Early Intensive developmental and Behavioral Intervention for children with autism. So far, prosecutors have charged 98 defendants and secured 64 convictions; DOJ officials say the majority of those charged are of Somali descent. Investigators have issued more than 1,750 subpoenas, executed over 130 search warrants, and conducted more than 1,000 witness interviews, and the FBI has deployed forensic accountants and data-analytics teams to trace financial flows. The widening investigations have drawn scrutiny of Minnesota political leaders, prompted HHS to freeze billions in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidenomics-blowing-out-the-budget\/\" title=\"Bidenomics: Blowing Out The Budget\">federal child care<\/a> and social-service funding in several states pending audits, and led to related enforcement actions, including ICE arrests. DOJ says more criminal charges are expected as new prosecutors arrive in the state.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DOJ sends prosecutors to Minnesota amid widening fraud investigation<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2464205\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> is dispatching additional federal prosecutors to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a> as it ramps up an expansive investigation into alleged <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/waste-and-fraud\/\">fraud<\/a> tied to nonprofit, child care, and Medicaid programs in the state, Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pam-bondi\/\">Pam Bondi<\/a> announced Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Department of Justice is dispatching a team of prosecutors to Minnesota to reinforce our U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office and put the perpetrators of this widespread fraud behind bars,&rdquo; Bondi said in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;We will deliver severe consequences in Minnesota and stand ready to deploy to any other state where similar fraud schemes are robbing American taxpayers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4409526\/kai-trump-wants-republicans-democrats-meet-in-middle\/\">Kai Trump wants Republicans and Democrats to meet &#8216;in the middle&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4409543\/tim-walz-minnesota-fraud-investigation-lauren-green\/\">Walz still has &#8216;a lot of work to do&#8217; as his future remains clouded: Lauren Green<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4409472\/jan-6-pipe-bomb-suspect-brian-cole-jr-federal-grand-jury-indictment\/\">Jan. 6 pipe bomb suspect Brian Cole Jr. hit with federal grand jury indictment<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks with reporters during a news conference at the Department of Justice, Nov. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The move comes as federal authorities continue unraveling what began as a pandemic-era welfare fraud investigation and has since expanded into multiple state and federal benefit programs. In 2022, then-Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/merrick-garland\/\">Merrick Garland<\/a> announced the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/archives\/opa\/pr\/us-attorney-announces-federal-charges-against-47-defendants-250-million-feeding-our-future\">first indictments in the Feeding Our Future case<\/a>, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization accused of exploiting federal child nutrition programs for personal gain. Garland described the scheme, estimated at roughly $250 million, as the largest COVID-19 relief fraud uncovered at the time.<\/p>\n<p>Under Bondi, the DOJ has continued to pursue Feeding Our Future defendants while broadening its focus to related schemes, including alleged juror bribery, healthcare fraud, and misuse of Medicaid-funded programs. DOJ officials now say the scale of the fraud is larger than initially understood, with additional criminal charges expected as new prosecutors arrive in the state.<\/p>\n<p>Federal investigators are also investigating allegations of fraud involving Minnesota&rsquo;s Housing Stabilization Services program, which operates through Medicaid, and the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program, which provides services for children with autism.<\/p>\n<p>To date, prosecutors have charged 98 defendants in Minnesota fraud-related cases and secured 64 convictions, according to the DOJ. The vast majority of those charged are of Somali descent.<\/p>\n<p>Department officials say they have issued more than 1,750 subpoenas, executed over 130 search warrants, and conducted more than 1,000 witness interviews as part of the investigations.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Learning Center Director Ahmed Hasan stands in the infant room at his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/authorities-identify-suspect-in-pa-convenience-store-shooting-2-people-dead-including-gunman\/\" title=\"Authorities identify suspect in Pa. convenience store shooting, 2 people dead including gunman\">day care center<\/a> in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo\/Mark Vancleave)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Viral fraud allegations have also opened the floodgates of scrutiny toward Minnesota&rsquo;s political leadership. Democratic Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison met in 2021 with individuals who were later convicted in fraud cases, a fact that has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/flashback-why-gold-star-parents-are-furious-at-biden-for-afghanistan\/\" title=\"Gold Star Parents Furious at Biden for Afghanistan\">drawn renewed attention<\/a> as the investigations widen.<\/p>\n<p>Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tim-walz\/\">Tim Walz<\/a> (D-MN), who recently ended his bid for reelection, has also faced questions over oversight failures as billions of dollars in state and federal funds flowed through programs now under investigation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) speaks during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing, June 12, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a> has paired the criminal investigations with broader administrative action.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/health-and-human-services\/\">Department of Health and Human Services<\/a> froze billions of dollars in federal funding for child care and social service programs in five Democrat-led states, including Minnesota, pending audits of how the funds were used. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ICE\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a> has also arrested several noncitizens convicted of fraud as part of related enforcement efforts.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4408743\/trump-10-billion-cut-child-care-funding\/\">TRUMP TO CUT $10 BILLION IN CHILD CARE FUNDING FOR FIVE BLUE STATES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Public attention intensified last month after independent journalist Nick Shirley released a viral video&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4364532\/minnesota-previous-investigations-child-day-care-centers-no-findings-fraud\/\">highlighting day care centers<\/a>&nbsp;in Minnesota that received public funds. Several of the facilities featured in the video are still under active investigation, according to the DOJ.<\/p>\n<p>The FBI has supplemented the DOJ&rsquo;s efforts by deploying forensic accountants and data analytics teams to Minnesota to trace financial flows and identify potential links between fraud networks and public officials, according to the department.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ deploys prosecutors to MN in fraud probe<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2530983,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25338681606804.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[7076,42812,5698],"class_list":["post-2530982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-doj","tag-fraud-investigation","tag-minnesota"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25338681606804.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2530982"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2530986,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530982\/revisions\/2530986"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2530983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2530982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2530982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2530982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}