Monday, December 29, 2025

What is the Minnesota social aid fraud scandal about?

The federal government is investigating a potential social-services aid fraud scheme in which hundreds of millions of dollars intended for a federally funded nutrition program was allegedly used instead for lavish purchases. Nearly 90 people have been convicted, a majority of whom are Somali American, federal sources confirmed to NewsNation. Two defendants have already been sentenced, with one facing 28 years in prison and another owing $48 million in restitution.

Posted by lamplighter at 12:44 PM | 44 COMMENTS | permalink

Comments

More from the article ...

... Minnesota fraud: Which groups are involved?

At the center of the allegations is the Feeding Our Future nonprofit.

Founded in 2016, the organization opened more than 200 federal child nutrition program sites across Minnesota and claimed to serve meals to thousands of children each day during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But court documents argue that, rather than feeding children, money was instead pocketed by fraudsters or sent elsewhere, to places including Somalia, Kenya and China.

Charges first surfaced in 2022, when U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland called the $250 million fraud scheme "an egregious plot to steal public funds meant to care for children in need." ...

Where did Minnesota fraud money end up?

Funds raised by Feeding Our Future were spent on island vacations, luxury vehicles, waterfront properties, jewelry and other lavish items, according to court documents.

Federal trial exhibits show accused fraudsters celebrating a honeymoon in the Maldives with champagne and purchasing entire buildings in Kenya.

"They used this money that was supposed to be used for feeding children to buy houses in Minnesota, resort property and real estate in Kenya and Turkey, luxury cars, commercial property, jewelry and much more," former U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said when announcing the indictments in September 2022. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-29 12:47 PM

It's a distraction fro Trump's mega-universe of frauds and theft.

#2 | Posted by Zed at 2025-12-29 12:49 PM

It's about desperately trying to make a story out of nothing.

You'd think Somalis were more of the threat to the fabric of the Univerese than transgenders.

#3 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-12-29 12:58 PM

www.youtube.com

Watch this for an answer to the question in the heading.

#4 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-12-29 01:03 PM

#4 Oh, look: BJ boi is here with his 2 inches cents.

#5 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-12-29 01:04 PM

Could you imagine if Harris/Walz had won?

What a disaster that would have been for America.

Trump's win gets framed as some sweeping mandate, but that's nonsense. We're talking about a margin of only a few million votes separating the country from putting that train wreck in the White House.

Think about it. Nearly half of the voters were prepared to elevate Walz to second in line to the presidency.

This election wasn't a triumph.

It was a dodge.

#6 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-12-29 01:19 PM

#6 How cute: BJ boi doesn't think we're in an economic disaster now.

#7 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-12-29 01:21 PM

Bathhouse Bill voted for 15% unemployment.

#8 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-12-29 01:27 PM

@#3 ... It's about desperately trying to make a story out of nothing. ...

I wouldn't go as far as to say, "out of nothing" because there does seem to be something there.

What interests me is the apparent sudden and targeted PR blitz about this fraud investigation.

An investigation that has been ongoing since before 2022, and has already had convictions and sentences issued.


#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-29 01:34 PM

#9 Racism sells.

#10 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-12-29 01:37 PM

www.qasimrashid.com

#11 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-12-29 01:41 PM

What interests me is the apparent sudden and targeted PR blitz about this fraud investigation.

It's all they got with which to smear Tim Walz.

#12 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-12-29 01:49 PM

@#11

From that link ...

... Right wing provocateur Nick Shirley has published a video claiming he has proof of fraud in Somali daycare centers. I watched the video so you don't have to. The entire video is, in a word, propaganda. Despite this complete lack of substantiation, Vice President JD Vance praised Shirley and suggested he deserves a Pulitzer Prize. MAGA media has since moved immediately to demonize the Somali community in Minnesota as a whole"facts be damned.

That framing is not just reckless"it is intentionally racist. And it obscures the real issue entirely. Here are the critical facts they leave out, and hope Americans don't see. Let's Address This. ....

A Propagandized Claim With Zero Evidence

Shirley begins his interview with a man named "David," who apparently investigated this alleged fraud for years. Shirley provides no explanation of who David is, what qualifications he has, or what actual evidence of fraud he's uncovered. Instead, while waving around documents that he never bothers to validate, David makes the following bombastic and factless claims:

- - - "Compared to worldwide, the fraud is worse here in the Twin Cities than anywhere else ever, in history, anywhere."

- - - "The allegedly stolen funds are being sent to terrorist organizations."

- - - "We have to be careful because these [Somali] people are very violent, they're exceptionally violent."

- - - "Tim Walz is guilty of misconduct with a public employee."

Note"the above are actual quotes from David. At no point in the video does David or Shirley provide any actual evidence for the above claims.


#13 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-29 01:50 PM

Redial,

"all they got"

Walz's state, while he was Governor, has been funneling tax dollars to what may be fraud in the multi-billions. Who has been getting this money? Who is the US funding?

That's all.

If Walz didn't have knowledge of this, I wonder which makes him look the worst.

He had knowledge and turned a blind eye or he was an incompetent governor.

Take your pick.

#14 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-12-29 02:08 PM

Bathhouse Bill, your child-raping idol pissed away $40 billion propping up the psycho from Argentina.

#15 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-12-29 02:10 PM

@#14

My guess is that he knew of it because the fraud was being investigated by the DoJ since before 2022.

I doubt if he turned a blind eye to it, as it was a Federal investigation, under the auspices of AG Merrick Garland.

Do you have any evidence that he tried to block that Federal investigation?

Or are your comments like the video you liked to ... apparently full of lots of unsubstantiated pasture pastries?


#16 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-29 02:16 PM

" or he was an incompetent governor."

You're a moron if you think any governor also serves as the comptroller.

How about blaming the fraudsters?

#17 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-12-29 02:25 PM

Rein,

All you've offered here is whataboutism and insults.

You gave me nothing to respond to.

#18 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-12-29 02:25 PM

Bathhouse Bill, it's a given that you support the decomposing-------------------'s 15% unemployment rate.

#19 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-12-29 02:28 PM

Dan,

"You're a moron if you think any governor also serves as the comptroller."

That's a straw man.

Governors don't act as comptrollers. They oversee them.

By your logic, no one could manage healthcare without being a doctor.

#20 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-12-29 02:31 PM

" You gave me nothing to respond to."

You need to read more carefully.

His point was you're (rightfully) upset at this one-quarter of a billion dollar crime.

Meanwhile, you're silent while Trump blows $40 billion of our tax money so Scott Bessent and his buddies can get their Argentine investments made whole.

160 times the grift.

Enough to respond to?

#21 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-12-29 02:34 PM

"Governors don't act as comptrollers. They oversee them."

And if the comptroller doesn't do their job properly, do you somehow believe it's the governors responsibility to find out if every single person is telling them the truth or not?

If Walz knew, and did nothing, the blame is on him. But there's ZERO evidence that happened.

#22 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-12-29 02:37 PM

Rein,

So you are saying you supported the Harris Walz ticket?

It was that or Trump.

Not everyone who voted for Trump likes everything about him. I don't.

But Harris and Walz both came across as over their head.

#23 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-12-29 02:37 PM

"But Harris and Walz both came across as over their head."

You've said this many times.
You've never told us:
How did Trump come across?

#24 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-12-29 02:39 PM

It's no surprise that Bathhouse Bill is a fan of 15% unemployment and----------.

#25 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-12-29 02:40 PM

"That's a straw man."

Nonsense. Governor and Comptroller are two different jobs. Just like the Doctor probably isn't doing the billing.

If the biller in the doctor's office is committing embezzlement, is that the doctor's fault?

#26 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-12-29 02:40 PM

Trump is over his head. He's a ------- Moron.

So are you if you think he's remotely Competent.

Trump has damaged this country more than any single person in living memory.

Over his head is an understatement.

He has single handedly changed a flawed republic into an Authoritarian Satrapy.

#27 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-12-29 02:43 PM

If Walz knew, and did nothing, the blame is on him. But there's ZERO evidence that happened.
#22 | Posted by Danforth

Wink wink nudge nudge say no more...

In the US it's easier to steal than be proven guilty. That where the US is, it's one big rent seeking grift, then expect a 10 year investigation only to be thrown out by the judge, or pardoned by the President.

This won't turn out well.

#28 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-12-29 02:46 PM

Dan,

"If Walz knew, and did nothing, the blame is on him. But there's ZERO evidence that happened."

Given that Walz is a liberal, I doubt his motto is "the buck stops here" as used by Truman who was an old school Democrat and still believed in personal accountability.

It's in the nature of liberals today to blame their problems on someone else.

#29 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-12-29 02:47 PM

Trump has damaged this country more than any single person in living memory.
- footposer

Idk I have a feeling the distributed fraud occuring across the nation will be it's undoing.

Blame that on Trump if it makes you feel better, but that's not the reality.

#30 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-12-29 02:48 PM

@#29 ... It's in the nature of liberals today to blame their problems on someone else. ...

Pres Trump's modus operandi is to blame others for the problems he has and causes.


#31 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-29 02:49 PM

Imagine how much of the US debt is fraud.

Now imagine being a 20yo looking at the federal debt.

The kids are just going to checkout once they see the $1.8trillion in debt servicing they need to pay.

But yeah Billionaires are going to cover it

Lol good luck with that.

#32 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-12-29 02:49 PM

Pres Trump's modus operandi is to blame others for the problems he has and causes.

#31 | Posted by LampLighter

Well he was a Democrat, maybe he learned it from them?

#33 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-12-29 02:50 PM

RUNT, the------------------- accepts bribes from drug lords.

www.wsj.com

#34 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-12-29 02:52 PM

You can run around playing the partisan game and gotchas.

But this is the moment you should take a serious look at how the taxpayers are looking at this. Large amounts of Fraud and grift is being uncovered in every state.

They are questioning the viability of their governments ability to spend their hard earned tax dollars. It's not going to help the citizens.

Bumper sticker slogans, fundraiser emails and tweets, aren't going to get the US out of this. They want some scalps.

#35 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-12-29 02:55 PM

Large amounts of Fraud and grift is being uncovered in every state.

Enough about Trump U, MAGAt.

#36 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-12-29 02:58 PM

Danforth,

Walz knows as much as Rick Scott about the fraud going on in their organizations.

You can play you "he knows nothing" game.

Florida was stupid enough to elect a senator that was the CEO of a company that swindled $10billion from the US government.

He claims he had no idea, no one proved he did.

Do you believe him?

Kamala want childcare to go nationwide, you think she had no idea fraud was taking place and how to make it beneficial to Democrat politicians?

Wink wink nudge nudge...

#37 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-12-29 03:00 PM

" Large amounts of Fraud and grift is being uncovered in every state."

Define "large" and "every".

Small amounts of fraud can be found in every system, in every state.

Large fraud? Let's see your definition that fits for "every" state.

#38 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-12-29 03:03 PM

MN resident here. This is the same story that has been reported on for weeks. I presented a timeline of events. Suspected fraud was reported in 2021. The state stopped paying some of the entities making claims. A judge (appointed by former (R) Governor Tim Pawlenty) ruled there wasn't enough evidence of fraud yet and to resume payments. The FBI was brought in late 2021 and people were arrested and charges were filed in early 2022.

The organizer of this fraud scheme was Aimee Bock (a white woman) who recruited the Somalians to participate. Aimee Bock (the white woman) was one of the first to be tried (and convicted) in March of this year. Did I mention she is white? I just want to make sure everyone gets the story straight, the organizer of this fraud scheme was a white woman named Aimee Bock, as this is the 4th time I have corrected this story on this site.

So please free free to copy and paste the above when the next foolish person starts yet another post of this event.

#39 | Posted by Chantresse at 2025-12-29 03:04 PM

" Walz knows as much as Rick Scott about the fraud going on in their organizations."

You're literally conflating a governor with a CFO. The fraud victim, with the fraud architect.

Are you trying to look stupid?

#40 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-12-29 03:06 PM

Close italics

#41 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-12-29 03:08 PM

#37 Aimee Bock, the white woman who organized this fraud scheme, was not an employee of the state of MN, so how would Gov Walz know what she was up to? She had a charitable organization that she used to commit the fraud. She originally had a partner, but they split. The old partner was the person who originally reported the suspected fraud. Geez, you really need to work on your critical thinking skills, or at least learn how to use Google.

BTW, All the info in the above paragraph was in the timeline I posted when this story first landed here, which is available on line if you use "MN fraud timeline" in your search engine.

NOW YOU KNOW

#42 | Posted by Chantresse at 2025-12-29 03:21 PM

Chan,

Seeing this unfold firsthand, could you share more info?

I have yet to read who ultimately was the recipient(s) of these billions.

Sure, billions are squandered by the government but this is actual fraud.

Where did it go?

Will the truth ever come out?

#43 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-12-29 03:41 PM

In this comment December 3, 2025 , drudge.com

you posted this link ...

Timeline: How feeding underprivileged children turned into a sweeping federal investigation.
sahanjournal.com



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