Pam Bondi Says Somali Fraud Prosecutions Are Just Beginning

Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed Monday that the federal government is far from finished prosecuting those involved in the widespread fraud scheme uncovered in Minnesota’s Somali community, saying the Justice Department’s efforts are “just beginning.”

Bondi praised independent journalist Nick Shirley for his viral exposé, which documented numerous child care and health care centers in the Twin Cities area receiving millions in taxpayer funds while appearing completely empty. Shirley’s footage showed locked doors, deserted buildings, and in one case, a woman falsely warning others that he was with ICE.

“MINNESOTA FRAUD: [Nick Shirley]’s work has helped show Americans the scale of fraud in Tim Walz’s Minnesota,” Bondi posted on X. “@TheJusticeDept has been investigating this for months. So far, we have charged 98 individuals – 85 of Somali descent – and more than 60 have been found guilty in court. We have more prosecutions coming … BUCKLE UP, LAWMAKERS!”

According to federal investigators, many of the daycares and learning centers were funneling money through government programs intended to support children and low-income families — including Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program and federal Medicaid funds. One center with a misspelled sign had received $4 million, despite showing no signs of operation.

Shirley claimed his team found over $110 million in suspected fraud in a single day. “This might be my most important work yet,” he posted. “We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day … It’s time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable.”

Department of Children, Youth and Families Commissioner Tikki Brown issued a defensive response to the video Monday, saying that all locations shown had recently passed random inspections and that children were present during those checks.

However, Brown did not deny that the sites appeared vacant in Shirley’s video. Instead, she questioned the timing: “When were the videos taken? Were they during times that the center was scheduled to be open? Were they during the weekend?”

Brown added that the state would conduct follow-up inspections in light of the footage.

Despite the state’s attempted pushback, the investigation continues to escalate. FBI Director Kash Patel and Homeland Security agents have been conducting door-to-door checks in Minneapolis and nearby cities. Federal prosecutors estimate at least $9 billion in fraud across 14 Minnesota social programs since 2018.

Bondi’s message made it clear: the Biden-era corruption that flourished in Democratic strongholds like Minneapolis is now under federal scrutiny, and more arrests are expected soon.