The BareStory
Federal prosecutors on Thursday announced charges against six more individuals for allegedly defrauding public assistance programs in Minnesota, bringing the total number of people implicated in a wider scandal to over 90. A prosecutor stated that the state has become a “magnet for fraud.”
The new charges relate to the state’s housing stabilization and autism services programs. According to prosecutors, five people were charged in a scheme involving the housing program. It is alleged that two men from Philadelphia, identified by a prosecutor as Anthony Waddell Jefferson and Lester Brown, traveled to Minnesota and submitted $3.5 million in fraudulent bills. Another defendant is accused of fleeing the United States after being subpoenaed. In a separate case, a defendant was accused of a $6 million fraud related to an autism services program by allegedly using unqualified staff and paying kickbacks.
These charges are part of a broader investigation that includes the “Feeding Our Future” case, in which a nonprofit was accused of misappropriating nearly $250 million in pandemic-era food aid. The founder of that organization was convicted, though her attorney said she denies wrongdoing and plans to appeal.
In response to the investigations, state officials have shut down the housing stabilization program. The governor’s administration has launched a fraud prevention initiative and is also under investigation by a U.S. House committee, according to one summary. A state auditor’s report previously determined that the Minnesota Department of Education’s oversight “created opportunities for fraud” in the Feeding Our Future case.
While the U.S. Treasury is reportedly investigating if funds from a related fraud were sent to the terror group al Shabaab, federal investigators and a former U.S. attorney have said there is no evidence to support this claim. They stated the money was spent on personal luxury items.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• The state’s housing stabilization program has been shut down, which may affect individuals in Minnesota who rely on it for assistance.
• New fraud prevention initiatives could result in stricter rules or application processes for those seeking public assistance in the state.
• Alleged use of unqualified staff in an autism services program could impact the quality of care for program participants.
• Federal investigation into the state's administration may lead to broader changes in how states are required to oversee public assistance funds.
