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FBI raids autism treatment centers in Minneapolis, St. Cloud in fraud case

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FBI raids autism treatment centers in Minneapolis, St. Cloud in fraud case


FBI agents raided autism treatment centers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud Thursday morning. The raids could be part of a broader investigation, with search warrants indicating that the raids are part of an investigation into possible Medicaid fraud.

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What we know

At 9 a.m., agents raided a Minneapolis autism center called “Smart Therapy,” located in a storefront. A second raid occurred at “Star Autism” in St. Cloud. Both centers are suspected of massive fraud involving state funds.

A 54-page federal search warrant, unsealed at the same time as the raids, outlines an investigation into wire fraud, healthcare fraud, and conspiracy. It states that Smart Therapy received nearly $14 million in state funds since 2019, while Star Autism has received more than $6 million since 2020. The document says, “many of these claims appear fraudulent.”

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Context

This investigation grew out of the Feeding Our Future case, which involved hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent meal claims. The FBI says they noticed a connection between the schemes. “At least a dozen of the defendants charged for their role in the Feeding Our Future scheme owned, received money from, or were associated with autism clinics and other healthcare companies that received state funds,” the warrant says.

Witnesses told investigators the owners of these clinics recruited clients by talking to parents they knew, even going door to door. The warrant alleges some parents were paid to bring their children to the clinics.

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In some cases, investigators believe children weren’t even present. Medicaid was allegedly billed for services when children were at school or, in one case, at home recovering from surgery. The warrant also alleges bills were submitted for work by people who didn’t work at the centers—or by medical providers who were not in the country.

Larger investigation

The warrant suggests these raids are just part of a broader investigation, as dozens of similar autism centers opened around the same time. Many of them are suspected of submitting fraudulent claims.

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Minneapolis, MN

JD Vance: Ilhan Omar ‘definitely committed immigration fraud’

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JD Vance: Ilhan Omar ‘definitely committed immigration fraud’


The Republic of Somaliland is calling for Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar to be extradited after Vice President JD Vance accused her of committing immigration fraud.

Vance accuses Ilhan Omar of immigration fraud

The backstory:

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Vance appeared on conservative Benny Johnson’s podcast over the weekend, where he accused the Minnesota lawmaker of fraud.

“Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America. She has been at the center of a lot of the worst fraudsters at the center of the Somali community,” Vance told Johnson.

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Omar has been at odds with the Trump Administration and the White House multiple times over accusations that she married her brother to obtain U.S. citizenship. FOX 9 looked into those allegations, and found no evidence that can corroborate that.

Omar calls allegations ‘a ridiculous lie’

The other side:

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Omar responded to Vance’s allegations on Sunday, via FOX News.

“This is rich coming from someone who literally said they were willing to ‘create stories’ to redirect the media,” the statement said. “This is a ridiculous lie and desperate attempt to distract from the pedophile protection party’s unpopular war of choice, increasing gas prices, and rapidly dropping polling numbers.” 

Omar sprayed at town hall

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Local perspective:

In late January, Omar held a town hall where after calling for then DHS Sec. Kristi Noem to resign over Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities, an attendee stood up and sprayed Omar with a liquid. 

The man, later identified as Anthony Kazmierczak, was charged with threats of violence and assault for the attack. The Hennepin County complaint alleges that Kazmierczak told Omar that “you should f–king die” during the attack.

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Trump on Omar: ‘Throw her the hell out’

Why you should care:

President Trump made an appearance in Pennsylvania last December, where he highlighted Minnesota’s ongoing issues with fraud.

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Trump said in the appearance she married her brother, and “she should get the hell out.”

“You know, that’s called the Great Big Minnesota scam with one of the dumbest governors ever in history. I love this Ilhan Omar, whatever the hell her name is, a little turban. I love her, she comes in, does nothing but bitch. She’s always complaining. She comes from a country where, I mean, it’s considered about the worst country in the world, right?” Trump said. “They have nothing. She comes to our country and she’s always complaining about the constitution allows me to do this. We ought to get her the hell out, she married her brother in order to get in. Can you imagine if Donald Trump married his sister, if I married my sister to get my citizenship? Do you think I would last about two hours, or would it be less? She married her brother to get in, therefore she’s here illegally. She should get the hell out, throw her the hell out.”

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Minneapolis, MN

Minnesota weather: Gorgeous Sunday with a warmer Monday ahead

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Minnesota weather: Gorgeous Sunday with a warmer Monday ahead


A sunny and warm Sunday is in store for the Twin Cities, with even higher temperatures expected on Monday before a chance of rain and cooler air returns later in the week.

Sunday forecast

Local perspective:

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Sunday is starting with some cloud cover before sunshine moves in with highs near 70 degrees around the metro and southern parts of the state. 

Winds will be much lighter than Saturday, coming from the south at 5 to 10 mph with only occasional gusts up to 15 mph. 

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The Brainerd Lakes area will see temperatures in the 60s, while the North Shore will be cooler, which is typical for this time of year. 

Sunday’s weather is expected to be dry and pleasant.

Overnight, temperatures will drop to the upper 30s and lower 40s, with some clouds moving in ahead of Monday. 

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Extended forecast 

What’s next:

Monday could be the warmest day of the week, with highs in the lower 70s for the Twin Cities and some spots in southern Minnesota possibly reaching close to 80 degrees.

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Winds will shift from southerly to southeasterly and then easterly as the day goes on, but should remain light. 

After the warm start to the week, a cold front will move through on Tuesday, bringing a chance for a few rain showers in the early morning. 

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Temperatures will likely drop to the upper 40s by Wednesday and Thursday, with another front possibly bringing showers late Friday into early Saturday.

The rest of the extended forecast calls for temperatures close to or just below average, with highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s.

The Source: This story uses information from the FOX 9 weather forecast.

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Minneapolis, MN

Man found dead in south Minneapolis house fire

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Man found dead in south Minneapolis house fire


Firefighters are investigating the Minneapolis’s second fire fatality of the year after a man died in a house fire Saturday afternoon. 

Fatal fire on 28th Avenue South

What we know:

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According to the Minneapolis Fire Department (MFD), fire crews arrived shortly after 1:00 p.m. and found smoke coming from the second floor of a single-family home on 28th Avenue South. Bystanders alerted firefighters that someone might be trapped inside.

Crews had to work through heavy debris to reach the upstairs area. It took about 40 minutes to fully put out the fire.

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During the primary search, firefighters found a man in his 60s dead on the second floor. No one else was found after searching all the floors.

Minneapolis Animal Care and Control took in a dog found outside the home.

Assistant Chief Wes Van Vickle said, “The department is grateful to the neighbors who alerted fire crews that someone may still have been inside, allowing them to act quickly.”

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Fire safety reminders and community response

What they’re saying:

“This afternoon’s tragic loss of life weighs heavily on all of us, and we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased,” said Van Vickle.

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He also encourages the public to regularly check and maintain smoke detectors and fire extinguishers at home.

There were no other injuries reported. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner is working to confirm the man’s identity.

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What we don’t know:

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and the man’s name has not been released.

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