The nine billion dollars that a network of nearly a hundred Somali-Americans in Minneapolis stole from American taxpayers is the largest fraud — forget about the Yazoo Land and the Teapot Dome scandals — in American history. The investigation is still going on, and still more frauds may be discovered, and other Somalis may emerge as participants. But it’s not too early for a summing up, at this stage, of the story so far, which you can find here: “Minnesota’s Somali-linked scams drain US taxpayers of a sum rivaling Somalia’s GDP: Read how the welfare system was gamed in a multi-billion-dollar fraud,” by Rukma Rathore, OpIndia, December 30, 2025:
With around 80,000 residents, Minnesota hosts the biggest Somali diaspora in the United States. Many of them are refugees from the civil war that has raged in their native nation since 1991. They moved to Minneapolis and its suburbs, enticed by meatpacking jobs, Lutheran charity networks, and a more generous welfare system than others.
The civil war in Somalia is over. Shouldn’t our government now insist that those who claimed “refugee status” because they fled that civil war, and have not become citizens, now be asked to return home? After all, they are “refugees” no longer. And shouldn’t those Somali-Americans who may be citizens, but are shown to have taken part in this immense series of frauds while they were applying for American citizenship, now be stripped of their citizenship?
Notably, anti-India Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is also of Somali descent. However, the community has often come into the spotlight following significant scandals that erupted concerning Minnesota’s social programmes. An astounding $9 billion is the anticipated overall damage, which is close to Somalia’s entire GDP.
It was also determined that of the 98 defendants indicted and over 60 convictions in significant fraud cases across the state, 85 are either Somali Americans or of Somali heritage.
The truth comes to light
On 27th December, the issue surfaced after Nick Shirley, a 23-year-old YouTuber, exposed the pervasive fraud at childcare centres run by Somalis using publicly accessible data from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. These facilities had received millions in government subsidies, but the footage showed deserted playgrounds, blacked-out windows, closed doors at licensed daycares and angry employees who screamed or ran away when confronted.A woman even yelled, “Don’t open up, it’s ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).” A neighbour also attested that no kids had been spotted there in eight years. Shirley stated, “This could be the largest fraud scandal in US history,” during his investigation. He pointed out that federal and state funding were diverted to businesses that had negligible or no operational history….
It was a 23-year-old investigator, Nick Shirley, and not anyone working for the state of Minnesota, who managed to supply the evidence of empty childcare centers that had received $110 million in state aid, which turned out to be a small part of the massive fraud. A coup for Mr.Shirley, and a great embarrassment for the state government, including Governor Tim Walz, who had continued to sing the praises of the Somali community against those who expressed alarm over its role in the fraud.
In addition to whatever punishment — prison time and large fines — these fraudsters may receive, there is a further punishment now being considered: stripping the fraudsters of their American citizenship, and, after they have served their sentences, deporting them back to the hellhole of Somalia, which will be a source of great anguish for them.
It would have been bad enough had the original figure of $1 billion stolen by fraudsters not increased first to $3 billion, then to $5 billion, and now to a scarcely believable sum of $9 billion. But still worse is the fact that much of that money ended up in the hands of Al-Shabaab, a terrorist group in Somalia that has links to Al Qaeda. The Minnesota taxpayer has thus been helping to fund Al-Shabaab, and hence, also, Al-Qaeda. The two government officials most responsible for this state of affairs are Walz and the state’s Attorney General, Keith Ellison. One hopes this will put a stake through the heart of their political ambitions. Given their failures to investigate, or even to admit to, the Somali scandal, Walz and Ellison ought to be finished as politicians. But who knows? The scandal-ridden Ilhan Omar was a friend to at least one of the Somalis, a restaurant owner who was involved in the fraud. Yet Omar still riding high, still sure to be reelected by her Somali-heavy electorate.
“I wouldn’t be proud to have the largest Somalian – look at their nation. Look how bad their nation is. It’s not even a nation. It’s just people walking around killing each other. Look, these Somalians have taken billions of dollars out of our country. Billions and billions,” Trump later outlined.
“Those Somalians should be out of here. They’ve destroyed our country,” he further stated. “Go back to your own country and figure out your constitution. All she (Omar Ilhan) does is complain about this country, and without this country, she would not be in very good shape. She probably wouldn’t be alive right now. Somalia is considered by many to be the worst country on Earth. I don’t know. I haven’t been there, I won’t be there anytime soon, I hope,” the president added.
The Trump administration intends to deploy additional federal agents to Minneapolis with the authority to target Somalis, especially those who have final deportation orders.
Does anyone take issue with Trump’s description of Somalia? Isn’t it, by every measure, including the World Happiness Index, the Religious Freedom Index, the Corruption Barometer, the Violence Scale, close to being “the worst country on Earth”? Why import into the U.S. any more of those people who come, according to many foreign observers besides Trump, from the “worst country in the world”? And after this nine-billion-dollar loss of government aid money meant for the poor, to Somali immigrant scammers and their progeny, isn’t it time to halt all immigration from Somalia, and to insist that all Somalis convicted of crimes will, at the conclusion of their sentences, be stripped of American citizenship (if they managed to acquire it), and be sent back to their hideous country of origin on the Horn of Africa?
somehistory says
A former agent who was working on the scam some years ago, said they investigated the pretend child-care centers for about 3 months, and suddenly it all ‘just went away.’
The claim from the FBI director is that biden halted the investigations because there were ‘tires to his allies’ in the government.
On a not funny note, the report I read said the “Federal Bureau of Information (FBI)”…not Investigation.
And another report in the news said, JFK was assassinated in “Houston, Texas.”
So, people must know things before they read reports purporting to tell us the news we need to know.
Wellington says
OK, I have to be careful here lest I be accused of some kind of hatred. Here it is: Only Western Civilization developed true concepts of liberty and so why should America, with exceptions here and there to be noted, accept people into America who are not Westerners?
As for Somalia, one would be hard pressed to find a more dysfunctional and terrible excuse for a country and yet political idiots in droves in this country—from both major parties but certainly Democrats more than Republicans—have been just fine with bringing these simply backwards and worse people into this nation, the vast majority of whom have no intention of assimilating and becoming patriotic Americans, for instance Ilhan Omar. Indeed, most of these dregs want to make America into a giant Somalia.
Hey, national suicide ain’t pretty. Look at the UK.
40 rounds says
Totally agree, it is baffling. Almost like they were brought here for a reason and not a humanitarian one
David M says
Because the Democrats know they will vote for them once they get here.
OLD GUY says
Ant the support groups make millions of dollars off of the Government aid they receive for taking these people in.
Wellington says
Agreed, and why any Republican who wanted them in is stupid and why Democrats who want them in are vile.
gravenimage says
So true, Wellington.
somehistory says
Newsweek
“Donald Trump targets Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minnesota fraud scandal”
“President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused immigrants from Somalia of contributing to fraud in Minnesota and singled out Rep. Ilhan Omar in a social media post, as the state grapples with a large-scale welfare scandal.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that “much of the Minnesota fraud” was linked to people who entered the country illegally from Somalia and criticized Omar, a Democrat who represents Minneapolis.
Trump wrote, “Much of the Minnesota Fraud, up to 90%, is caused by people that came into our Country, illegally, from Somalia. ‘Congresswoman’ Omar, an ungrateful loser who only complains and never contributes, is one of the many scammers. Did she really marry her brother? Lowlifes like this can only be a liability to our Country’s greatness. Send them back from where they came, Somalia, perhaps the worst, and most corrupt, country on earth. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!””
In late 2010 I was researching articles on terrorism. More than 15 years ago, the FBI was investigating and found that members of al shabab were coming into the U.S. from Mexico….illegally.
And there was ilhan elmi and her terrorist father who changed their last name to omar in order to get in through the door bill clinton held open for somailis named omar.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/donald-trump-targets-rep-ilhan-omar-in-minnesota-fraud-scandal/ar-AA1Tmoo8?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=69556d0271ae48438e2948e35536c990&ei=10
40 rounds says
They never were refugees. The all went back home on a regular basis with the trip paid for by US taxpayers
gravenimage says
Yep.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
You know how f🤬ed up Somalia is when a breakaway province of it – Somaliland – turns out to have a more functional government than the one in Mogadishu
somehistory says
Mr. Fitzgerald, I saw your email ( article dated tomorrow) and thought it would be here…but then, saw the date.
Thanks for the heads-up.
somehistory says
“Somali fraudster in Minnesota had sights set on new state to loot”
“Years before Minnesota welfare fraud captured the nation’s attention, a Somali-American leader of one massive scheme expanded his assets beyond the North Star State, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, a Somali-born naturalized U.S. citizen, used some of his ill-gotten gains to buy property throughout the Twin Cities and Kentucky before the DOJ prosecuted him for using the nonprofit Feeding Our Future to defraud the government of $300 million in COVID-19 relief meant for hungry children, leading to a 28-year prison sentence in August. There are at least 1,687 people of Somali descent living in Kentucky.
“While Minnesota burns through billions in Somali-linked welfare fraud (Feeding Our Future, Medicaid scams, etc.), guess where some of that stolen money went? Real estate in Kentucky,” local conservative radio host Andrew Cooperrider said on X Tuesday about the forgotten detail.
“Using the taxpayer money meant for needy kids, Farah purchased five luxury vehicles for himself in about six months, including over $300,000 for a Porsche, a GMC truck, and a Tesla,” the DOJ said when announcing his August sentence. He was convicted in June 2024 of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, false statements in a passport application, conspiracy to commit money laundering, two counts of federal programs bribery, six counts of wire fraud, and 11 counts of money laundering.”
Those are things for prosecuting under RICO.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/somali-fraudster-in-minnesota-had-sights-set-on-new-state-to-loot/ar-AA1TmtVf?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=69558484ba3c4d36b8cfcab647be055f&ei=4
gravenimage says
Thanks for that link, Somehistory.
Taffy says
The reported fraud keeps going up a couple of billion every few days!
somehistory says
Because they keep finding more of it as having been stolen. You know, that, I am aware.
somehistory says
“Tim Walz finally breaks silence on Somali fraud scandal – he would have been better off not saying anything”
No surprise, he’s blaming Pres. Trump
“Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz finally decided to address the ongoing Somali fraud scandal in his state. In typical Democrat fashion, Walz couldn’t help but mention President Donald Trump while doing so.
On Tuesday, Walz posted an official statement to X that read, “We’ve spent years cracking down on fraud – referring cases to law enforcement, shutting down and auditing high-risk programs.
Trump keeps letting fraudsters out of prison. To the national news just now paying attention, here’s what we’ve done to stop it.” He said, referring to a series of screenshots from the Minnesota Tribune where Walz wrote about everything he’s supposedly done to combat fraud.
Walz praised the quality of life in his state while trying to distance himself from this latest scandal, saying “our state’s generosity has been taken advantage of by an organized group of fraudsters who’ve put their greed and self-dealing above the needs of children, seniors, and people with disabilities.””
Users who commented are scornful.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/tim-walz-finally-breaks-silence-on-somali-fraud-scandal-he-would-have-been-better-off-not-saying-anything/ar-AA1Tm1CK?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=1ffa94f79e02491ed81bee1876e84838&ei=7
David M says
The first thing the FBI should do is check Tim Walz’s bank accounts. I bet if you follow the money a cut of it will end up going from the Somali providers to good old Tim’s in a roundabout way.
somehistory says
Today’s news says walz got $10,000 from somalis involved in the theft. Probably way more than that under the table.
David M says
Nancy Pelosi wouldn’t get out of bed for only a $10,000 kickback bribe.
ploome says
meanwhile, the NYPost describes a burglary:
” A Somali-run day care in Minneapolis is claiming somebody broke in and stole “important documents,” but cops say the facility didn’t report anything was actually taken.
The alleged burglary comes as the national spotlight shines on the unfolding multibillion-dollar fraud scandal involving Minnesota human services, with particular scrutiny on day care facilities run by Somali immigrants after dozens of people from the community have been busted for pilfering state funds.”
………almost funny
PRCS USN (ret) says
I saw that.
No doubt other ‘day care’ operators will soon be reporting similar ‘burglaries’.
WPM says
“Somali lighting” will set fire to many of those businesses in the near future I bet .Nothing to review when everything in the building burns to the ground in the middle of the night .Like scene in the movie goodfellows when they burn down the restaurant when they had nothing left to steal.
David M says
Here’s the guy who claimed it, he doesn’t look very bright. Maybe he thinks we will believe him. Did they steal the kids who should have been there too?
https://www.infowars.com/posts/bizarre-somali-run-daycare-manager-claims-child-enrollment-employee-records-stolen-in-recent-burglary-blames-investigator-nick-shirley
somehistory says
The liar looks like all of the other somalians.
gravenimage says
All true Ploome, PRCS, and WPM.
Isabella van der westhuizen says
When you hand the place over like we did in South Africa and Rhodesia you open the door to this corrupt behaviour.
We have seen this all in Southern Africa.
Now the west is finding out the same.
Hank says
Hmmm. I wonder how many illegal Muslim migrants and Somali fraudsters $9 bill could have deported? Let’s see: $9 bill. divided by $800 one-way ticket = 11,250,000 one-way tickets.
ploomes says
you forgot to include the cost of attorneys and the years it takes to deport them
the transport cost is the least of it
somehistory says
Some idiots from cnn were *questioning* Nick Shirley about “when” he approached the daycare centers.
He was explaining his times, methods, the problems he faced being able to speak with someone.
the ‘reporters’ said that “day cares are all locked.”
And to this, I say No they are not all “locked”……The parents have to be able to drop off their children and pick them up. Parents have to be able to enroll their children in the first instance.
If the door is locked, as these loud women claimed, someone has to be at the front to address access for parents.
I, myself, walked into a day care to pick up my daughter….who worked there. The door was not locked.
The corrupt media will go to any lengths to protect criminals, esp muzzie criminals.
gravenimage says
+1
gravenimage says
The Nine-Billion-Dollar Somali Fraud
…………………………………..
This story just keeps getting worse. Note that the entire GDP of Minnesota is just about 470 billion.
David M says
They had a surplus each year till the Somali fraud kicked in.
gravenimage says
All grimly true, David.