The FBI has intensified its Minnesota investigation into COVID-era fraud schemes, revealing money laundering ties to Kenyan real estate and a $120,000 juror bribery attempt, building on 78 indictments and 57 convictions for stealing over $250 million from child feeding and housing programs.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced on December 28, 2025, via social media that the agency had deployed additional personnel to Minnesota to target fraud exploiting federal programs, prioritizing cases robbing taxpayers and vulnerable children.
The probe has exposed sham vendors, shell companies, and sophisticated money laundering. Key developments include 78 indictments and 57 convictions. Notably, suspects like Abdimajid Mohamed Nur attempted to bribe a juror with over Ksh15 million (USD120,000) in cash; those involved pleaded guilty, receiving sentences including a 10-year term and nearly $48 million in restitution.
Over Ksh32 billion (USD250 million) was siphoned from programs like 'Feeding Our Future' and Housing Stabilisation Services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceeds funded overseas investments, including luxury apartments in Kenya's Eastlands and coastal regions. Recent attention intensified via American YouTuber Nick Shirley's video, viewed over 1 million times, highlighting immigrants exploiting loopholes at empty daycares and healthcare providers receiving millions in state funds.
Minnesota, home to the largest U.S. Somali-descended population (over 100,000 in 2025), has been labeled a fraud hub. The Trump administration recently ended legal protections for Somalis there amid these scandals.
