The Department of Justice has taken a significant step forward in a Minnesota fraud case by charging 98 individuals, of whom 85 are of Somali descent, with fraud-related offenses. Attorney General Pam Bondi made the announcement on Monday, confirming that a series of fraud schemes had been uncovered within certain Minnesota communities. These charges come in the wake of investigative efforts by independent journalist Nick Shirley, whose reporting put a spotlight on the rampant fraudulent activities in the state.
The federal crackdown follows Shirley's series of investigative videos that brought to light the extent of the fraud, which surpassed the already notorious Feeding Our Future scandal. This particular case involved a Minneapolis nonprofit accused of misappropriating government funds meant for feeding vulnerable families. The journalist's work, which gained federal attention, significantly contributed to the Justice Department's ongoing investigations, according to Bondi's statement on social media platform X.
Of the 98 individuals charged, more than 60 have been convicted in federal court, with additional indictments on the horizon. Bondi's stark warning to lawmakers, "BUCKLE UP," underscores the severity of the situation and the government's commitment to justice. The attorney general shared several major fraud schemes that have been prosecuted, including the Feeding Our Future operation and a related attempted bribery of a juror. This particular attempt was likened to corruption seen in Somalia's judicial system, drawing a stark comparison and highlighting the gravity of the offenses.
Beyond these high-profile cases, investigators have also unearthed multiple instances of Medicaid fraud. A disturbing example is the prosecution of 28-year-old Asha Farhan Hassan, who was charged with defrauding an autism services program for personal financial gain. Court documents revealed that Hassan was involved in a $14 million fraud scheme targeting the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program (EIDBI), designed to assist individuals under 21 with autism spectrum disorder.
Hassan established a company named Smart Therapy LLC, enrolling it as an EIDBI program provider and also with the Federal Child Nutrition Program, through Feeding Our Future. However, investigations found that Smart Therapy employed unqualified staff and was involved in fraudulent activities from November 2019 through December 2024. The case also highlighted that undisclosed ownership stakes were linked to individuals with questionable pasts, including one with a three-year exclusion from the Department of Human Services for misconduct.
Attorney General Bondi took to Twitter, expressing gratitude towards U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen and @DMNnews for their relentless efforts in uncovering the fraud and building strong cases against those involved. With a clear signal that the Justice Department is actively pursuing justice, this case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and accountability in the fight against fraud.
