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Growing fraud investigations in Minnesota
Federal authorities charged more people in connection to the massive fraud of state and federal program in Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Prosecutors have charged six individuals with defrauding various state programs, with investigations now extending into Minnesota's Medicaid program.
Fraud investigations in Minnesota
What we know:
Prosecutors have filed new charges against six people – Hassan Ahmed Hussein, Ahmed Abdirashid Mohamed, Abdinajib Hassan Yussuf, Kaamil Omar Sallah, Anthony Waddell Jefferson, and Lester Brown. They are accused of defrauding autism and housing stability programs. Investigations have expanded to a new Medicaid program, with $350 million in proven fraud so far.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson described the situation as "a staggering industrial scale fraud" in Minnesota, emphasizing that it's not just a few bad actors but a widespread issue.
Prosecutors' concerns
What they're saying:
"What we see in Minnesota is not a handful of bad actors committing crimes. It's a staggering industrial scale fraud," said Joe Thompson, First Assistant U.S. Attorney.
The state has identified 14 programs as "high risk," costing taxpayers $18 billion since 2018. Thompson noted that a significant portion of this amount could be fraudulent, estimating that it might be half or more.
The scale of the issue
By the numbers:
Investigators have charged 92 people across various programs, and the numbers are still growing. Prosecutors have proven about $350 million in fraud so far, but they believe this is just the beginning.