Report links Minnesota welfare fraud to terrorist funding

New reports allege that millions of taxpayer dollars have been fraudulently stolen from the Minnesota welfare system and then sent to the Somali-based terror group Al-Shabaab...

It details how, over the past few months, the then-acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Joe Thompson, was investigating several different cases of fraud in the state. Thompson called it a “crisis.”....What we see are schemes stacked upon schemes, draining resources meant for those in need. It feels never ending. I have spent my career as a fraud prosecutor and the depth of the fraud in Minnesota takes my breath away..."

Just as claims under the MHSS program were ever increasing, so were autism claims to Medicaid. In 2018, there was $3 million, the article reports. In 2023, there was $399 million. That is a 13,200% increase.

Over the same period, autism providers in the state were increasing—with many of those being within the Somali community. According to the report, providers increased from 41 to 328. That is a 700% increase.

The article alleges that those millions of dollars in Minnesota taxpayer funding....

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Members of the Minneapolis Somali community have been involved in several significant fraud schemes, most notably the multi-million dollar “Feeding Our Future” federal child nutrition program fraud, and other unrelated cases involving Medicaid fraud and immigration fraud.

Somali Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme
This is the largest fraud scheme in Minnesota history, centered on the Somali nonprofit “Feeding Our Future” and related Somali entities. Participants exploited a federally funded program, intended to provide free meals to children during the COVID-19 pandemic, by Somalis submitting fraudulent claims for millions of meals that were never served.

Key aspects of the scheme:
More than $250 million was fraudulently obtained and laundered. Somali individuals and companies created shell companies and fake meal sites, submitted false meal count sheets and attendance rosters, and offered kickbacks to Somali families to use their children’s information for enrollment.

Somali money Laundering: Stolen funds were used to purchase luxury vehicles, commercial and residential real estate for Somalis in Minnesota and Somalis abroad (Kenya, Turkey, Ohio, Kentucky), and to fund Somali international travel.

Over 70 individuals have been charged, with many pleading guilty or being convicted at trial. The case also involved an alleged attempt to bribe a juror.

Other Noteworthy Somali Frauds

Medicaid/Autism Services Fraud: Several Somali individuals, including clinic owners and employees, have been charged in separate large-scale Medicaid fraud cases. Schemes involved Somalis billing for services not provided (such as “standing around and drinking tea”), using unqualified staff, and paying kickbacks to clients to maintain enrollment.

One case involved Somali claims related to an autism program where nearly $14 million in fraudulent Somali claims were submitted.

Housing Stabilization Services Fraud: Somali defendants have been charged with exploiting the state’s Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program, a Medicaid benefit, by creating fraudulent Somali claims for services that were not rendered.

Immigration Fraud: Federal authorities have conducted operations targeting Somali immigration fraud, uncovering instances of Somali marriage fraud, the use of fake Somali death certificates, and forged documents within the Somali community.

Voter Fraud: A former Somali campaign volunteer for a state senator was convicted of lying to a federal grand jury regarding his involvement in illegally delivering Somali absentee ballots without the voters’ consent during a primary election.

Federal authorities emphasize their commitment to pursuing those who exploit government programs for personal profit.

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