‘The FBI is aware of recent social media reports in Minnesota,’ he says, referring to a recent viral video about an allegedly fraudulent daycare in the state.
FBI Director Kash Patel on Sunday confirmed his office had surged resources to Minnesota to investigate claims of fraud exploiting federal services and programs.
Federal officials have so far indicted 78 people and convicted 57 individuals in the $250 million fraud scheme in Minnesota, said Patel in a post on X. Charges included wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and more.
“The FBI is aware of recent social media reports in Minnesota,” Patel wrote. “However, even before the public conversation escalated online, the FBI had surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs. Fraud that steals from taxpayers and robs vulnerable children will remain a top FBI priority in Minnesota and nationwide.”
The FBI director also said the recent arrests are “just the tip of a very large iceberg.”
“We will continue to follow the money and protect children, and this investigation very much remains ongoing. Furthermore, many are also being referred to immigrations [sic] officials for possible further denaturalization and deportation proceedings where eligible.”
The fraud scheme, Patel wrote, resulted in the stealing of “federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during COVID” including “sham vendors, shell companies, and large-scale money laundering tied to the Feeding Our Future network.”
“These criminals didn’t just engaged [sic] in historic fraud, but tried to subvert justice as well,” he added.
He noted a case in which a defendant and others have been “charged for attempting to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash.”
“Those responsible pleaded guilty and were sentenced, including a 10-year prison term and nearly $48 million in restitution in related cases.”
The FBI chief’s announcement was made after a viral video posted online showed a daycare in Minneapolis that allegedly obtained millions of state-backed funding although it was largely inactive. Some Republican lawmakers including Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) called for Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s office to investigate.
Vice President JD Vance called the fraud allegations in the state, “a microcosm of the immigration fraud in our system.”
“Politicians like it because they get power. Welfare cheats like it because they get rich,” Vance wrote on X on Saturday. “But it’s a zero sum game, and they’re stealing both money and political power from Minnesotans.”
