At a Glance
- FBI has surged investigative resources to probe alleged fraud in more than a dozen Minnesota childcare facilities.
- Video by Nick Shirley claims $110 million uncovered in one day.
- Gov. Tim Walz says the state has already closed one facility and is tightening oversight.
- Why it matters: The case spotlights possible abuse of state-funded programs and fuels a heated political debate over Somali immigrants.
Over the weekend, a viral YouTube clip purporting to expose non-operational Minnesota day-care centers that still received federal and state funding sparked a federal response. FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the bureau had already increased resources in the state as part of an ongoing fraud investigation targeting Somali immigrants.
FBI and Federal Investigation
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that he was aware of Shirley’s video and that the agency had surged investigative personnel to Minnesota. He added:
> “The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg.”
The federal probe has already charged 77 people in a scheme that prosecutors described as a $250 million fraud of a federally funded child nutrition program. Aimee Bock, a white defendant, was convicted by a jury in March.
State and Local Response
A spokesperson for Gov. Tim Walz defended state efforts, saying the governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and has launched investigations into the facilities highlighted in Shirley’s video. One of the centers has already been closed. The spokesperson added:
> “The governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action. He has strengthened oversight – including launching investigations into these specific facilities, one of which was already closed.”
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has not responded to inquiries about the alleged $1.9 million funding claim for the Quality Learning Center.
Political Fallout
The controversy has drawn the attention of national political figures. Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk, and several right-wing outlets amplified Shirley’s video, which has been viewed millions of times. The Trump administration has used the scandal to push a broader immigration crackdown. Trump’s remarks about Somali immigrants were widely reported:
> “I don’t want them in our country. I’ll be honest with you, OK. Somebody will say, ‘Oh, that’s not politically correct.’ I don’t care. I don’t want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason.”
Gov. Tim Walz countered:
> “If you commit crimes, you go to jail… Doesn’t matter what your race is, what your ethnicity, religion – but demonizing an entire group of people by their race and their ethnicity, a very group of people who contribute to the vitality – economic, cultural – of this state, is something I was hoping we’d never have to see.”
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Andrew M. Luger, said when the first federal charges were announced:
> “This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions.”
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Alleged fraud amount | $250 million |
| People charged | 77 |
| Facilities investigated | >12 |
| Video length | 42 minutes |
| Alleged money found in one day | $110 million |
Key Takeaways
- FBI has intensified its probe into Minnesota childcare fraud amid a broader investigation targeting Somali immigrants.
- Gov. Tim Walz maintains that state oversight has already closed a facility and is pursuing further investigations.
- The scandal has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration and alleged fraud involving state-funded programs.
This revised article stays true to the original facts while presenting them in a clear, scannable format.
