FBI director Kas Patel said the agency has sent additional personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota as part of an ongoing effort “to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes that exploit federal programs.”
Patel said Sunday that the agency moved resources to the state even before the recent online attention increased, pointing to the Fueling our future researchwhich exposed a $250 million scheme that siphoned off federal food assistance for children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The case has already led to 78 charges and 57 convictionswith prosecutors also charging suspects in a separate plot to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash, Patel said, adding that the investigation is still ongoing.
“The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg. We will continue to monitor the money and protect children, and this investigation remains ongoing,” he wrote on X. “In addition, many are also being referred to immigration officials for possible further denaturalization and deportation proceedings, if eligible.”
Patel’s announcement comes in the wake of a viral video that raised questions about a Minneapolis daycare center that reportedly received millions in state funding despite appearing largely inactive. The video prompted political figures to demand accountability from Governor Tim Walz and his administration.
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“The FBI is aware of recent social media posts in Minnesota,” Patel said, noting that the FBI’s latest actions had begun in advance.
This is a developing news story; check back for updates.
