Minnesota

Minnesota officials saw signs of massive fraud even before COVID hit

Published

3 months ago

December 5, 2025

Minnesota officials saw signs of massive fraud even before COVID hit

In July 2019, Minnesota state officials spotted early signs of fraud that would eventually siphon away more than $1 billion in taxpayer money, but they quickly faced pressure from leaders of the charitable group Feeding Our Future to stop asking questions, according to multiple former employees at the Minnesota Department of Education.

The scandal, which has already led to 61 convictions, has widely been viewed as a byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic. At one point, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland called it “the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme” in the United States.

Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick said those convicted “took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to carry out a massive fraud scheme that stole money meant to feed children.”

But state officials say the schemes aimed at diverting federal dollars meant for people who are poor, food insecure or disabled, actually started far sooner, months after Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz took office in 2019. In its early stages, members of the charitable group Feeding Our Future billed the state for some $3.4 million.

By 2021, however, that number ballooned. Before it was finally halted, Feeding Our Future had falsely claimed to have served 91 million meals, for which the group received nearly $250 million in federal funds, according to federal prosecutors. That money did not go to feed kids, federal officials said. Instead it was used to fund lavish lifestyles.

Investigators say the money came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with oversight from state governments. In Minnesota, those funds were administered by the state Department of Education, with meals historically provided to kids through schools and day care centers.

In recent weeks, renewed attention to the scandal has focused on the state’s failure to identify and halt the theft before it spun out of control. Conservative politicians and bloggers have alleged the state’s liberal establishment was cowed into inaction by intimidation from Feeding Our Future, which contracted within the state’s large Somali community — because the food charity sought to paint early scrutiny of the nonprofit as racism.

Well before the pandemic, state officials told CBS News that they began experiencing tension with the woman later convicted of masterminding the fraud, Aimee Bock. They began documenting her “concerning behavior.” One former employee told CBS News that Bock almost immediately began pressuring state workers who might have had follow up questions or concerns before processing reimbursements.

Within weeks of Feeding Our Future’s first submissions to the state, Minnesota workers also recognized that the charity was claiming to serve meals in numbers that were “not consistent” and “not realistic,” one official told CBS News.

Then the pandemic took hold. The officials told CBS News the scheme rapidly accelerated. Safeguards fell away — removed intentionally to insure residents in need did not go hungry.

But as state workers asked more questions — and even stopped payment on some receipts — Feeding Our Future ratcheted up pressure in response. In 2020, the charitable group filed a lawsuit alleging the state had “harmed Feeding Our Future by subjecting it to additional procedural hurdles in violation of federal regulations.”

The state “intentionally and wrongfully refuse[d] to do business with Feeding Our Future and the community it serves by discriminating … because of Feeding Our Future’s race, national origin, color, and religion.”

A judge dismissed the civil case after the FBI executed search warrants on Feeding Our Future and made public its investigation in January 2022.

The entire episode played out in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, as racial tensions ran high.

Seven months later, federal prosecutors first announced criminal charges against 47 people in the Feeding Our Future scandal. The number charged grew to 78 in total, and 59 have since been convicted, including Bock, who is awaiting sentencing.

Reached by phone on Thursday, Bock’s attorney Kenneth Udoibok said his client plans to appeal her conviction. He denied Bock exerted pressure on state officials so they would not properly scrutinize meal claims.

“That doesn’t meet the smell test,” Udoibok said. “A government agency with all its resources, and its reputation is afraid of Amy? That is just rich. It’s a lie.”

Udoibok said the state Department of Education employees leveling the accusation weren’t acknowledging their own role in the massive fraud.

“No one in the state of Minnesota, no one in the Department of Education has taken any responsibility for this fraud that they allowed to go through,” he said

While Bock, who is White, was described by investigators as the mastermind, most of the other defendants and alleged co-conspirators are Somalis, provoking fresh attacks from the Trump administration against the state’s large Somali community.

In recent days, President Trump has claimed Somali migrants “ripped off” Minnesota and has referred to the state as a “hellhole.” He has called people from Somalia “garbage” who “contribute nothing” and said: “I don’t want them in our country, I’ll be honest with you.” This week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement began enhanced operations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, home to a large population of Somalis.

Walz on Thursday said Mr. Trump’s comments are “unprecedented for a United States president,” and he denounced Trump’s barrage of anti-Somali statements as “vile, racist lies and slander towards our fellow Minnesotans.”

Walz said on “Meet the Press” last weekend that the fraud cases are “totally disconnected” from the broader Somali community. “To demonize an entire community on the actions of a few, it’s lazy,” he said.

House Republicans on Wednesday launched an investigation into the governor’s handling of the fraud cases. Walz has long been criticized for being slow to act, but he has said his administration caught the fraud early and reported it first to the USDA, and then to the FBI.

Prosecutors have charged nearly a dozen others in cases involving other alleged COVID-related fraud in Minnesota. The schemes are alleged to have operated similarly to the original one focused on nutrition funds, but these involve housing assistance and behavioral health services.

Prosecutors in all those cases have charged an additional eight people, most of whom are Somali, bringing the total number charged to 87, with 61 convictions. Sources at the U.S. attorneys office tell CBS News the investigations are ongoing in all of the fraud cases, including Feeding Our Future, with the total amount of stolen money reaching more than $1 billion.

Source link

Click to comment

Minnesota

Lawmakers demand Keith Ellison resign as Minnesota fraud grilling turns brutal

Published

3 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Lawmakers demand Keith Ellison resign as Minnesota fraud grilling turns brutal

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) called on Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to resign during the House Oversight Committee’s hearing on the widespread fraud in Minnesota.

Higgins began his line of questioning by referring to Ellison’s open statement.

“Under Minnesota law, my Office has limited jurisdiction over criminal matters. The only kind of criminal case we can prosecute on our own is Medicaid fraud; any other criminal case must be specifically referred to us by county attorneys or the Governor,” Ellison said in his opening statement.

Higgins stated Ellison said that his office only had the authority to investigate Medicaid fraud, to which Ellison nodded his head in response.

But, Higgins pointed out that was incorrect.

“Under your own law, you have authority if the county district attorney asks you to get involved, or if the governor asks you to get involved, then your office can take the lead on any criminal investigation,” Ellison said.

Ellison remained speechless after Higgins asked him if that his statement was correct.

“So you have the authority to lead your state’s effort to respond to this massive fraud at the state level, from within the health care realm, where government money has been stolen at very, very high levels, unprecedented levels, in your state,” Higgins said.

“Are you leading that effort for the state of Minnesota?”

Ellison replied but his response was not picked up by the microphone.

“You’re addressing it,” Higgins asked. “Are you leading it?”

Ellison responded, “we are leading the effort to prosecute Medicaid fraud.”

“I’m not talking about Medicaid fraud,” Higgins yelled.

“Don’t hide behind that. You have the authority to prosecute anything criminally that the governor asked you to. And this thing is big.”

“I’m giving you an opportunity, sir. Are you leading the criminal investigative effort into this massive fraud across the board in the healthcare spectrum, in the state of Minnesota or not,” Higgins continued.

Ellison replied, saying his office was “following the law,” prompting Higgins to interject.

“You are not leading,” Higgins responded. “You’re not leading. I must say, Mr. Chairman, that the Attorney General of Minnesota should resign.”

Source link

Minnesota

Maddy Kimbrel Named Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey Winner

Published

15 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Maddy Kimbrel Named Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey Winner

Maddy Kimbrel joined an illustrious group of players as Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey winner. The award is annually given to the best high school women’s hockey player in the state of Minnesota.

The Holy Family forward scored 37 goals and 57 points this season in only 26 games for her school.

She was also an assistant captain for Team USA at the 2026 U-18 World Championships winning gold. It was her second time representing USA at the event.

Kimbrel spent four seasons playing for Orono High before moving to Holy Family this season.

The 17-year-old Mound, Minnesota product is headed to the University of Wisconsin next season.

The other four finalists for the award were Alaina Gentz (Centennial/SLP), Jasmine Hovda (Roseau), Lorelai Nelson (Edina), and Mia Miller (Northfield).

Past winners of the award include current PWHL players such as Taylor Heise (2018), Peyton Hemp (2021), Olivia Mobley (2020), Grace Zumwinkle (2017), and Hannah Brandt (2012), and 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Krissy Wendell-Pohl.

Source link

Minnesota

Bemidji declares March as Minnesota Food Share Month; hears Project Graduate report

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Bemidji declares March as Minnesota Food Share Month; hears Project Graduate report

BEMIDJI — The city of Bemidji declared March as Minnesota Food Share Month in partnership with the

Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign

during a

city council

meeting on Monday. This campaign is the largest grassroots food and fund drive in Minnesota.

“Food insecurity affects thousands of Minnesotans, including residents of Bemidji and the greater Beltrami County area, and access to nutritious food is fundamental to the health and dignity, and well-being of every community member,” the proclamation reads. “Local food shelves depend on the generosity of community donations to meet the growing needs of our neighbors, and every contribution — whether food, funds or time — makes a direct difference in the lives of Bemidji residents.

“The city of Bemidji proudly recognizes the extraordinary contributions of the volunteers, donors and partner organizations whose compassion and dedication ensure that no neighbor goes without, and the city of Bemidji is committed to fostering a compassionate and caring community where all residents are supported and encouraged to look out for one another in times of need.”

Ward 2 Councilor Josh Peterson read the proclamation as Mayor Jorge Prince attended the meeting virtually. Peterson attempted to award the proclamation to a Bemidji Community Food Shelf representative, but no one was available to receive it.

John Eggers,

a former educator, gave a presentation to the council regarding his Project Graduate initiative, which promotes 100% graduation rates within Beltrami County during Monday’s meeting.

“It’s not an easy task to do, but we can do it,” Eggers remarked.

Eggers shared personal efforts to promote a 100% graduation rate within Beltrami County, such as promoting graduation as a teacher at Red Lake High School recently. He hopes to do more work in Red Lake in the future.

Eggers also formed an alliance of local Bemidji businesses to promote Project Graduate. Each business will find a unique way to promote higher graduation rates while working with the alliance. Additionally, Eggers has spent the last several years forming an advocacy program that has now spread to 12 states and five countries worldwide.

He then shared ideas for the council to follow to promote the initiative. This included joining the alliance, displaying posters, “relentlessly” promoting high graduation rates, starting a PSA campaign, adding the initiative to the city’s website or newsletter and signing a proclamation.

He noted that in 2025, the city signed a proclamation and other Beltrami County cities followed suit, meaning Bemidji could once again set the trend to promote higher graduation rates.

Ward 1 Councilor Gwenia Fiskevold Gould asked how the initiative addresses underlying issues that affect

declining graduation rates

within Beltrami County, such as housing instability and food insecurity.

Eggers did not have a direct answer, but noted that graduation often helps young people climb out of bad situations. He believes that all people deal with adversity and that graduation is an important tool to help improve their quality of life.

He also pointed out that graduation rates among white students have remained steady when compared to statewide trends, but that students of color and Indigenous students’ graduation rates are lower than the state average, something that needs to be addressed to help these communities.

Finally, Eggers noted that the initiative’s drop-out prevention hotline was recently discontinued, but that students or parents can reach out to Eggers directly to receive the help needed to stay in school.

Overall, council members thanked Eggers for his Project Graduate presentation. His contact information can be found on his website,

johnrogereggers.com.

The council will next meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 16, at City Hall for a regular meeting. Meetings can be viewed on

the city’s website.

Source link