A series of multi-billion dollar welfare fraud cases in Minnesota are bringing the state’s Somali community into the spotlight, raising sensitive questions about integration, oversight, and public safety. These fraud schemes involve various public programs, from COVID-19 relief and housing services to autism care, with some funds suspected of flowing to the terrorist organization al-Shabaab. The situation has led to investigations by the U.S. House of Representatives and the federal Treasury Department, and increased political pressure on Governor Tim Walz regarding why Minnesota failed to protect taxpayers’ money.

At the heart of the scandal is the Feeding Our Future case, where approximately $300 million intended to feed low-income children during the pandemic was misappropriated. The scheme involved “shell” companies and food distribution sites managed by some Somali individuals, but the alleged ringleader was identified as Aimee Bock, a white American woman. The case has now expanded to include at least 78 defendants. Other programs, such as Housing Stabilization Services, which assists with finding and maintaining housing, and an autism care program, also saw fraudulent claims for services, resulting in millions of dollars being siphoned off and spent on luxury cars, real estate, and lavish lifestyles in both the U.S. and Kenya.

According to Senator Jordan Rasmusson, ethnic sensitivities and political considerations within the Walz administration delayed investigations, allowing the fraud to continue for years. Several internal whistleblowers at the Department of Human Services (DHS) were ignored, transferred, or removed, indicating a lack of accountability in management and oversight. Senator Rasmusson emphasized: “Since Governor Walz took office, the human services agency has been poorly managed, creating an environment for criminals to exploit welfare programs.” The Feeding Our Future scandal is not only a financial fraud but also raises security concerns. Several reports suggest that some of the misappropriated funds were transferred abroad, potentially aiding the al-Shabaab terrorist organization in Somalia. Historically, in the late 2000s, approximately 20 young Somali-Americans left Minnesota to join this group, including Shirwa Ahmed, the first American suicide bomber in Somalia in 2008. These financial and terrorism concerns have led some lawmakers and former officials to warn about the risk of taxpayer money falling into the hands of extremist organizations.

Beyond the fraud, violent crimes involving some individuals of Somali origin have also eroded public trust. In recent years, there have been a series of rapes, murders, and other violent incidents in the Twin Cities, with some suspects identified as Somali. Loose criminal groups like the Somali Outlaws or the 10th Street Gang are not tightly structured criminal organizations, often stemming from personal conflicts, but these incidents still create a negative perception of the community. Minnesota does not track crime by ethnicity, and overall violent crime in the state is decreasing, but the prominence of cases linked to Somalis has amplified public safety concerns.

Somali community leaders emphasize that the vast majority of the population are hardworking, law-abiding, and patriotic citizens. Jaylani Hussein, director of CAIR-Minnesota, argued that attributing the criminal actions of a few individuals to the entire community is unfair: “Crime is an individual act, a betrayal of community trust, not the fault of the entire community. Profiting from the school food program is stealing from their own community, from the children who need help, especially in the Somali-American community, which is still struggling with poverty.”

This scandal raises questions about Governor Walz’s leadership, especially as he plans to run for a third term in 2026. Legislators criticized the administration for failing to protect taxpayers’ money and for its inaction when the fraud was clearly evident. Rasmusson commented: “The Walz administration has completely failed to protect the people of Minnesota. Public and legislative confidence in his leadership is eroding, and it will be very difficult to restore that trust.”

[Image caption: Prosecutors say Aimee Bock, founder of Feeding Our Future, and Salim Said helped orchestrate one of the largest pandemic relief fraud schemes in U.S. history. According to the U.S. government, both were convicted of diverting federal child nutrition funds to luxury homes, vehicles, and other personal expenses. (Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office)]