DOJ Announces Charges Against 15 in Major Minnesota Medicaid Fraud Schemes Totaling Over $90 Million

MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Department of Justice held a press conference Thursday announcing criminal charges against 15 defendants in a series of sophisticated Medicaid fraud schemes that allegedly stole more than $90 million from Minnesota taxpayers.

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Criminal Division described the takedown as a significant blow against fraudsters who “treated Minnesota-run programs as their personal piggybank.” The charges target schemes involving seven different Medicaid programs, including housing stabilization services, autism therapy services, and supports for adults with disabilities.

Prosecutors detailed multiple schemes in which defendants allegedly submitted fraudulent claims for services that were never provided or were grossly inflated. One major case involved over $46 million in fake autism therapy claims, including kickbacks paid to parents. Another scheme allegedly diverted $22 million intended for disabled adults into luxury purchases such as Porsches and Rolex watches. In one instance, services were billed for a deceased recipient receiving round-the-clock care.

The announcement came shortly after Aimee Bock, the convicted ringleader of the separate $250 million Feeding Our Future meal fraud case, was sentenced to 41½ years in prison. Officials emphasized that these new charges reflect the Trump administration’s aggressive focus on rooting out fraud in high-spending blue states.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota and other federal law enforcement leaders participated in the press conference, highlighting the execution of over 20 search warrants as part of the long-running investigation. One defendant, Muhammad Omar, reportedly fled arrest by jumping from a fourth-story balcony and remains at large.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended the event and announced plans to establish a new Midwest Strike Force dedicated to combating healthcare and benefits fraud in the region. Officials described the schemes as organized theft that exploited America’s most vulnerable populations.

This latest action brings renewed attention to Minnesota’s ongoing fraud problems, building on the massive Feeding Our Future investigation that has resulted in dozens of convictions. The DOJ described the charges as part of a broader national effort to recover taxpayer dollars and hold accountable those who abuse public assistance programs. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.