Criminal charges have been filed against 15 accused fraudsters in Minnesota, involving more than $90 million in taxpayers’ dollars, federal officials announced on May 21 at a news conference in Minneapolis.
“This is the beginning of our work in Minnesota,” Colin McDonald, assistant attorney general for the National Fraud Enforcement Division, said.
He alleged that the suspects “systematically pilfered” seven different government-benefit programs, treating them as “their personal piggy bank.”
The latest accusations involve programs such as Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services, which was shut down because of fraud, and autism services.
“The common theme throughout these cases is fraudsters exploiting vulnerable people” and programs, McDonald said….