Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz on Friday warned Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz the state could lose federal Medicaid funding unless it restores “the integrity” of its program.

In a post on X, Dr. Oz claimed more than $1 billion had been stolen through a massive Medicaid fraud scheme carried out by “bad actors” within Minnesota’s Somali community, alleging some of the funds “may have even made its way to the Somalian terrorist group (al-Shabab).”

“Our staff at CMS told me they’ve never seen anything like this in Medicaid — and everyone from Gov. Tim Walz on down needs to be investigated, because they’ve been asleep at the wheel,” Oz said.

COMER TARGETS WALZ IN NEW HOUSE INVESTIGATION, CITING NEARLY $1B IN ALLEGED MINNESOTA FRAUD

Oz demanded Walz take the following corrective measures within 60 days:

• Send weekly updates on anti-fraud efforts to CMS
• Freeze enrollment of high-risk providers for six months
• Verify all current providers as “legitimate” or remove them
• Send CMS a corrective action plan to prevent fraud in the future

“If we’re unsatisfied with the state’s plans or cooperation, we’ll stop paying the federal share of these programs,” Oz warned.

The CMS administrator pointed to two Minnesota Medicaid programs launched in recent years, noting dramatic spikes in costs.

The Housing Stabilization Services program, projected at $2.6 million annually, paid out over $100 million in 2024, according to Oz. 

The Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program grew from $3 million in 2018 to nearly $400 million in 2023, he said.

WALZ ‘DERELICT LEADERSHIP’ TO BLAME IN $1B FRAUD SCANDAL WITH ‘HAUNTING REMINDS OF WATERGATE’: GOP CHALLENGER

“These scammers used stolen taxpayer money to buy flashy cars, purchase overseas real estate and offer kickbacks to parents who enrolled their kids at fake autism treatment centers,” Oz said. “Some of it may have even made its way to the Somalian terrorist group al-Shabab. … So why didn’t Walz stop them? That’s simple: because he went all-in on identity politics.”

Minnesota officials previously reported the problem to CMS but failed to address it effectively, according to Oz.

“We stepped in and shut down the worst program: housing. We also froze provider enrollment in a few of the most abused programs,” Oz said. 

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“The message to Walz is clear: either fix this in 60 days or start looking under your couch for spare change, because we’re done footing the bill for your incompetence.”

President Donald Trump recently announced a flurry of actions to crack down and investigate fraud schemes in Minnesota, which he has assailed as a “hub of money laundering activity,” and cited it as the basis of his decision to terminate deportation protections for hundreds of Somali migrants.

This week, senior Trump administration officials announced fresh investigations, including a new Treasury Department probe into how taxpayer dollars were allegedly diverted to the terrorist organization al-Shabab, according to Secretary Scott Bessent. 

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Walz’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.

DETROIT — When the Detroit Tigers formally added right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan to the roster on Saturday, it prompted a tough decision: Who would get dropped in the corresponding move?

Less than halfway through the winter, the Tigers are running out of easy cuts.

The Tigers elected to designate for assignment Justyn-Henry Malloy, a popular young designated hitter who was consistently excellent in Triple-A and had bursts of success in the big leagues.

Although the Tigers can keep Malloy in their system if he clears waivers, it’s far more likely that he’s claimed or traded in the coming days.

Finnegan’s contract is a two-year deal worth a guaranteed $19 million.

He’ll earn $8.75 million in 2026 and $8 million in 2027. There’s a mutual option for 2028 worth $10 million that can be bought out for $2.25 million.

Finnegan was acquired by the Tigers from the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline and rattled off 14 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, striking out 19 and walking just three. After a brief stint on the injured list, he was less effective upon his return in late September, striking out only three of 30 batters he faced in the postseason.

Finnegan, 34, was born in Detroit but grew up in Texas. He had spent his entire big-league career with the Nationals before the trade in July.

Drafted by the Oakland Athletics out of Texas State in 2013, Finnegan never reached the majors in that organization. He signed with Washington as a minor-league free agent before the 2020 season and posted a 3.66 ERA over 329 innings with 108 career saves with the Nats.

Malloy, who turns 26 in February, hit .322 with a .955 OPS in 329 plate appearances with Toledo in 2025, but never got on track during sporadic big-league opportunities.

Most notably, he hit only one home run in 127 MLB plate appearances in 2025, compared to eight in 230 in 2024.

His lack of power, lack of a defensive position, and the emergence of Jahmai Jones as a right-handed platoon bat all combined to make Malloy expendable.

Malloy’s outfield defense has always been a question mark, so the Tigers gave him extra work at first base in spring training. But the resurgence of Spencer Torkelson closed off any opportunity at that position, and Malloy remained largely a DH and pinch-hitter in 2025.

Malloy was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the Joe Jimenez trade after the 2022 season. The New York native was a sixth-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech in 2021.

TIGERS’ 40-MAN ROSTER (40)

Left-handed pitchers (6): Tyler Holton, Bailey Horn, Brant Hurter, Jake Miller, Tarik Skubal, Drew Sommers.

Right-handed pitchers (15): Drew Anderson, Beau Brieske, Kyle Finnegan, Jack Flaherty, Sawyer Gipson-Long, Brenan Hanifee, Kenley Jansen, Jackson Jobe, Ty Madden, Troy Melton, Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Reese Olson, Dylan Smith, Will Vest.

Catchers (4): Dillon Dingler, Thayron Liranzo, Jake Rogers, Eduardo Valencia.

Infielders (9): Javier Báez, Trei Cruz, Jace Jung, Colt Keith, Hao-Yu Lee, Zach McKinstry, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres.

Outfielders (6): Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Jahmai Jones, Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez, Matt Vierling.

MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee man, already serving prison time for a fatal crash, is now accused of scamming people and banks out of tens of thousands of dollars before that crash even happened.

In Court:

Prosecutors said 27-year-old Jaquon Benson used fraudulent checks to take cash out of multiple ATMs in a scheme known as “card cracking.” He is charged with six felonies. 

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‘Card cracking’ scheme

The backstory:

Court filings said Benson was caught on camera at ATMs across the Milwaukee metropolitan area, cashing out what investigators said were fraudulent checks.

According to a criminal complaint, Benson was the ringleader in a scheme that spanned several months in 2023. Here’s how investigators said it worked.

ATM surveillance image of Jaquon Benson (Courtesy: MCDAO)

First, someone needs a check or bank information. Benson is accused of recruiting a friend to steal checks from USPS drop boxes. The stolen checks would then be modified, sometimes to the tune of thousands of dollars.

Next, prosecutors said Benson took to social media to recruit people to use their bank accounts or to open up new accounts. Investigators said, after depositing the fraudulent checks into those accounts, Benson would pull up to the ATM to withdraw – or attempt to withdraw – the money he had just deposited.

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Multiple banks were targeted to the tune of more than $116,000. Court filings said the victims ranged from people to business – to even the “Milwaukee County Office of the Sheriff.” But not all that money was pocketed.

The complaint said many banks had security measures in place to stop potential fraud before it happened. Still, Benson is accused of cashing out close to $61,000.

Social media image included in criminal complaint filed against Jaquon Benson (Courtesy: MCDAO)

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Dig deeper:

Benson was caught driving a stolen car in May 2024. When officers tried to stop him, he took off and crashed into a van at 27th and Locust – killing a 41-year-old man. He was sentenced to more than a decade in prison.