Washington (Kaab TV) – The U.S. Department of Justice announced that it has charged 98 individuals in connection with a large-scale corruption investigation in the state of Minnesota, with more charges expected as the investigation continues.
“We have charged 98 individuals related to corruption in Minnesota. More than 60 of them have pleaded guilty. Others are coming,” the department said in a statement posted on the U.S. social media platform X.
Federal authorities have recently highlighted Minnesota’s Somali community, describing it as the center of allegations involving the misuse of millions of dollars in federal funds intended for social services. Meanwhile, immigrant rights organizations have said the investigation unfairly targets Somali people.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that 85 of those charged so far are individuals of Somali origin.
FBI Director Kash Patel said on Sunday that significant progress has been made in the investigation into what he described as a “large-scale” corruption scheme in Minnesota, which involved exploiting federal food assistance programs intended for children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FBI said it has stopped a massive fraud scheme totaling approximately $250 million. The money was meant to provide food for low-income children during COVID-19, but it was improperly taken and misused.