Federal law enforcement agencies executed 22 search warrants at businesses across the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area on Tuesday (April 28), as part of a large-scale fraud investigation targeting alleged misuse of federal funds. The coordinated operation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and state and local authorities, according to a Justice Department spokesperson.
Most of the locations targeted in the raids were businesses that receive Medicaid funding, including day care and senior care facilities. At least one site was identified as the Somali Senior Center and Adult Day Services facility, where federal agents were seen entering and exiting the building. The FBI confirmed that the activities were not related to immigration enforcement, but rather focused on alleged financial fraud.
A spokesperson for FBI Minneapolis stated, “Today, the FBI with federal, state and local law enforcement is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.” The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that agents “executed criminal search warrants in Minneapolis relating to the rampant fraud of American taxpayer dollars,” and assured the public that DHS “will continue working to deliver answers to the American people on how their taxpayer dollars were abused.”
The current round of raids follows similar law enforcement actions in December, which focused on Medicaid providers. Federal prosecutors have suggested that fraud in Minnesota’s programs could total as much as $9 billion since 2018, though state officials have disputed this number, saying proven fraud amounts are much lower, in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
The investigation has drawn national attention. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota, thanked federal agencies for their efforts, stating, “President Trump and his administration have made it crystal clear — our country will not tolerate waste, fraud, and abuse, and we are not going to allow people to take advantage of Americans’ generosity,” according to NBC News.
The raids are part of an ongoing probe into allegations of fraudulent use of federal funds by Somali-owned businesses, which have been the subject of recent congressional hearings and public debate. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently withdrew from his reelection campaign in response to the scandal, as reported by WKOW.
Federal officials say the investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected as authorities continue reviewing evidence gathered during Tuesday’s raids.
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