Federal investigators in the United States have stepped up efforts to dismantle a network of fraud schemes which have been linked to money laundering from Minnesota to other countries, including Kenya.
On the evening of Sunday, December 28, FBI director Kash Patel revealed via his social media channel that the FBI had deployed additional personnel and investigative resources specifically to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes.
"The FBI is aware of recent social media reports in Minnesota. However, even before the public conversation escalated online, the FBI had surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs. Fraud that steals from taxpayers and robs vulnerable children will remain a top FBI priority in Minnesota and nationwide," Patel said in his statement.
According to the director, the investigation exposed sham vendors, shell companies and large-scale money laundering, resulting in 78 indictments and 57 convictions.
FBI investigations also revealed that there was a last-ditch attempt by a juror with over Ksh15 million (USD120,000)by one of the individuals under investigation.
"These criminals didn’t just engage in historic fraud, but tried to subvert justice as well. Abdimajid Mohamed Nur and others were charged for attempting to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash. Those responsible pleaded guilty and were sentenced, including a 10-year prison term and nearly $48 million in restitution in related cases," Patel's statement added.
The latest update came at the back of an independent investigation by American YouTuber Nick Shirley, which exposed other ways in which immigrants in Minnesota exploited loopholes for financial gain.
In the investigative piece, which has since garnered over 1 million views, Shirley visited multiple daycares and healthcare providers across Minnesota which were receiving millions of US dollars in state-funded programmes despite not housing a single child. These findings are, however, yet to be tested in court.
Earlier, the FBI and U.S. federal prosecutors revealed that a large share of stolen money in Minnesota came from the sham "Feeding our future" programme and Housing Stabilisation Services fraud. Proceeds from this scheme were channelled into overseas investments, including real estate in Kenya, according to investigations.
According to investigations, more than Ksh32 billion (USD250 million) was stolen from programs designed to feed hungry children during the COVID-19 pandemic. This makes the "Feeding Our Future" case one of the largest ones in U.S history.
Court documents have since revealed that part of the millions which were siphoned were channelled into the purchase of high-end assets in Kenya, including swanky apartment buildings in the Eastlands area and the coast.
Investigations into fraudulent dealings in Minnesota heat up even as the Trump administration continues to point an accusing finger at the Somali community in the state.
Minnesota has the largest population of individuals of Somali descent in the entire United States, with the number exceeding 100,000 in 2025.
In November, Trump ended legal protections for Somalis in Minnesota as he accused the state of being a hub for fraudulent activities. He also infamously claimed that some Somali Americans "came from hell" and contributed nothing to the US.
