Federal agents fanned out across Minneapolis early Tuesday, hitting more than 20 locations in a sweeping fraud probe focused on a network of largely Somali-owned businesses, including child care centers.
Authorities executed 22 federal search warrants as part of the operation, according to officials. The coordinated action involved federal, state, and local law enforcement and was carried out under court authorization.
“Today, the FBI, with federal, state, and local law enforcement, is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation,” a Department of Justice spokesperson said.
Officials stressed the investigation is not tied to immigration enforcement, but instead centers on alleged fraud involving government-funded programs.
Investigators are examining claims that some child care providers registered with the state billed for services that were never actually provided, according to sources familiar with the probe.
Two of the locations targeted were identified as Quality Learning Center and Baby Halimo Child Care, both based in Minneapolis.
The crackdown follows months of increased scrutiny over fraud allegations tied to Minnesota’s social service programs, including child care assistance, as authorities step up efforts to crack down on misuse of taxpayer funds.
Quality Learning Center previously drew national attention after blogger Nick Shirley visited multiple listed daycare sites and reported finding empty storefronts, closed businesses or unresponsive occupants at some addresses.
During those visits, Shirley attempted to enroll a child at several locations but said he was unable to verify that operations were active at certain sites.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no charges tied to Tuesday’s raids had been publicly announced as of this morning.
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