MINNEAPOLIS—The “staggering” amount of taxpayer dollars siphoned from Minnesota’s social welfare programs by fraud could exceed $9 billion, longtime federal prosecutor Joe Thompson estimates.
Yet Thompson, first assistant U.S. attorney in his native state, said the costs extend beyond that eye-popping amount.
“It’s not just about the money that’s been stolen and wasted. This is a problem that’s caused all of us to question what kind of state we live in,” Thompson said during a Dec. 18 news conference. “I think it’s eroded our sense of collective statewide self-esteem and confidence.”
Along with a small staff, Thompson has led prosecutions against dozens of alleged fraudsters in three distinct schemes thus far—and counting….