FBI Director Patel: Minnesota fraud arrests "tip of a very large iceberg"
The head of the FBI is turning his attention to fraud in the North Star state.
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The head of the FBI is turning his attention to fraud in the North Star state.
Federal prosecutors said the total fraud in Minnesota's Medicaid programs could be as much as $9 billion, but DFL Gov. Tim Walz and other state officials disputed that the amount of taxpayer money stolen is that high.
Federal prosecutors say the fraud in Minnesota could total several billions of dollars as criminal charges mount. But Gov. Tim Walz, DFL-Minnesota, and state officials dispute it's that high. Caroline Cummings heard from the governor and others in his administration Friday for the first time since new indictments came down Thursday.
Federal agents raided another business moments before the six new indictments were announced Thursday. That company claimed it was helping vulnerable people live at home. But as Frankie McLister reports, new court documents reveal one of the people under their "constant" care died, and no one noticed for days.
Federal prosecutors announced new indictments Thursday in the widening Minnesota fraud scandal, this time involving two Philadelphia-based men accused of traveling to Minneapolis after a friend told them the taxpayer-funded programs there presented "a good opportunity to make money."
From 2021 to 2025, Smart Therapy Center submitted claims totaling $31.8 million across all Minnesota Department of Human Services programs, according to that data. But the provider was only approved for a fraction of those payments.
A top prosecutor suggested on Thursday that the total amount of fraud in Minnesota could be $9 billion or more.
Prosecutors announced new charges against a provider of autism treatment services and a guilty plea for another.
Federal prosecutors announced they’ve charged five new defendants in Minnesota’s crisis.
Allegations of fraud are mounting in Minnesota, with state officials saying Wednesday they expect to pause enrollment for even more state programs. This comes after announcing a pause in licensing for adult day care centers for the next two years.
Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Friday unveiled a new statewide fraud prevention program in the state's latest effort to crack down in the wake of the Feeding Our Future scandal — a scheme that siphoned away $250 million in taxpayer funds meant for hungry children.
Federal investigators are still working to determine if Minnesota fraud money fueled terrorism overseas, plus more of the day’s top stories.
In a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Friday, U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says witnesses have documented "blatant racial profiling" and "an egregious level of unnecessary force" by ICE agents during Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities.
The kingpin behind the nation's largest case of pandemic fraud was convicted nearly nine months ago, but the White House is putting a renewed focus on the scheme and new pressure on Minnesota to stop it from happening again. Jonah Kaplan reports on plans announced by Gov. Tim Walz to fight fraud.
WCCO's Reg Chapman shares the latest news headlines and updates from Friday afternoon.
Walz introduced the team lead, Tim O’Malley, who will serve as Director of Program Integrity.
It's the state's latest effort to crack down on fraud after the Feeding our Future scandal.
Documents and images show luxury purchases and wire transfers to China and East Africa.
Michelle Mildred, the owner of Minnesota-based e-commerce business Coloring Your Own, says she has seen ads using her voice and face to promote counterfeit products with her designs, sending customers to scam sites overseas.
Luxury cars, homes, jewelry and casino trips were among the spoils of some of the biggest pandemic era fraud cases, according to a CBS News review of five years of government records and data.
The federal and state crackdowns on fraud in Minnesota are creating collateral damage in programs aimed at helping people with disabilities.
As federal investigations expand, the state is now pressing pause on all new licenses for home and community-based providers for the next two years. One small provider told us: It's been swept up with the bad actors and is now in danger of closing. Learnability provides 24-hour care to the severely disabled. The CEO told Esme Murphy that the families she serves aren't sure what they're going to do.
In July 2019, Minnesota state officials spotted early signs of fraud that would eventually siphon away more than $1 billion in taxpayer money, sources told CBS News.
The federal and state crackdowns on fraud in Minnesota are creating collateral damage in programs aimed at helping people with disabilities. One nonprofit says it's at risk of shutting down because of potential lapses in funding.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claims half of the visas held by Somali-Minnesotans are fake, and says fraudsters are using them to leech off of state welfare programs. WCCO's Caroline Cummings took those allegations to an immigration expert.
Minneapolis police say they are investigating a fatal shooting that took place in North Minneapolis on Thursday evening.
The E-ZPass express lanes are a great way to zip through congested Twin Cities traffic, but to use those lanes during peak traffic times, you need a valid E-ZPass transponder or you need to carpool.
As Minnesotans get ready for Memorial Day weekend and travel, they're also keeping an eye on gas prices.
The Medicaid freeze impacting over a million Minnesotans doesn't look to be thawing anytime soon.
The Army Corps of Engineers' final easement decision closes a regulatory saga that began with the 2016 Standing Rock protests, though further litigation over the pipeline remains likely.
Minneapolis police say they are investigating a fatal shooting that took place in North Minneapolis on Thursday evening.
The E-ZPass express lanes are a great way to zip through congested Twin Cities traffic, but to use those lanes during peak traffic times, you need a valid E-ZPass transponder or you need to carpool.
The Medicaid freeze impacting over a million Minnesotans doesn't look to be thawing anytime soon.
A Ramsey County deputy is accused of sending explicit pictures and messages to people he believed to be children, according to charges filed Thursday.
A 23-year-old man from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, faces a criminal vehicular homicide charge after prosecutors say he hit and killed a person on a highway, then fled.
A Minnesota mother and father may face felony drug charges after police say their child brought THC candy to school earlier this week.
The crew says specialized equipment and training completed last fall enabled them to pull off the nighttime rescue.
Outside the Bell Museum on the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus, honey bee researcher Isabell Dyrbye-Wright kept busy on World Bee Day.
The money will go toward finding and replacing lead pipes that deliver water to homes, also known as service lines.
Wildfire-hit residents of Minnesota's North Shore can now return home to assess damage, according to the Minnesota Incident Command System.
A driver went airborne during a high-speed police chase in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, after fleeing a traffic stop.
Fifty beagles rescued from animal testing in Wisconsin are set to arrive in Minnesota Thursday.
A 100-mile stretch of Mississippi River towns is hosting its annual 100 Mile Garage Sale this weekend, drawing shoppers and sellers from across the region and beyond.
Minnesota animal rescues are stepping up to take in dogs from a Wisconsin research facility accused of animal abuse.
You may have heard of Give to the Max Day, where people donate millions of dollars to hundreds of nonprofits and organizations across Minnesota on a single day. That idea has spread to western Wisconsin, called Give Big Valleys.
A 23-year-old man from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, faces a criminal vehicular homicide charge after prosecutors say he hit and killed a person on a highway, then fled.
Quincy Street isn't just at the center of Art-A-Whirl, it's at the heart of the Arts District in northeast Minneapolis. The road itself, however, is falling apart. And the only thing bumpier than the exposed brick is the reaction to the city's plans to fix it.
Somali and Muslim leaders in Minnesota played a threatening voicemail at a public gathering Friday, saying businesses in their community are being targeted with messages warning of death.
The Black homeownership rate in the Twin Cities dropped to 29% in 2024, and the region had the largest gap between Black and White homeownership rates of any comparable metro in the country.
Bobby Rogers once came to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to sketch and study; now he leads its design and editorial work, shaping what visitors see and experience.
The U.S. Department of Justice and other federal officials will announce a "major law enforcement action involving fraud" in the state on Thursday.
Several top federal officials will be in Minnesota Thursday for a "major law enforcement action involving fraud" — a visit coinciding with the sentencing of Feeding Our Future mastermind Aimee Bock, plus more of the day’s top stories.
The new fund to provide payouts to those who say the legal system was "weaponized" against them raised immediate questions about its legality, implementation and enforcement.
Waymo already operates in cities like Phoenix, Miami and San Francisco and started testing their cars with drivers behind the wheel in the Twin Cities late last year.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced criminal charges against 15 people Thursday morning in a series of Medicaid fraud schemes that prosecutors say cost taxpayers $90 million.
As Minnesotans get ready for Memorial Day weekend and travel, they're also keeping an eye on gas prices.
Target, which embarked on a turnaround plan under its new CEO earlier this year, reported an increase in first-quarter sales Wednesday.
The federal commodities regulator filed suit against Minnesota to stop a new state law, signed by Gov. Tim Walz, that would criminalize operating or participating in prediction markets starting Aug. 1.
Part of the end-of-session deal in the Minnesota Legislature rolls back skyrocketing tab renewal fees. Those fees have electric vehicle owners especially revved up.
In Minnesota, you'll be able to try one at St. Paul's CHS Field.
Minneapolis police say they are investigating a fatal shooting that took place in North Minneapolis on Thursday evening.
A Ramsey County deputy is accused of sending explicit pictures and messages to people he believed to be children, according to charges filed Thursday.
A 23-year-old man from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, faces a criminal vehicular homicide charge after prosecutors say he hit and killed a person on a highway, then fled.
A Minnesota mother and father may face felony drug charges after police say their child brought THC candy to school earlier this week.
Aimee Bock, the convicted ringleader of the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme in Minnesota, was sentenced to more than 40 years in prison on Thursday.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz went to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis Wednesday to talk about how the state is going to help the hospital financially.
Minnesota has legalized marijuana. Could magic mushrooms be next?
At least 80 deaths have been reported in a new Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda, authorities said.
It comes after insurers stopped paying for their kids' daily care, which they argue was covered as part of a 15-year-old state law. As the end of the Minnesota session nears, lawmakers have four days to make a change.
A Twin Cities teenager is facing an unimaginable battle: terminal cancer. She's fortunate enough to have family by her side through her fearless fight as they all hope for a miracle.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions alleges the U.S. Department of the Interior illegally used the jazzy tunes in social media posts and a video game.
"The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert is marking the end of an iconic late-night franchise on CBS.
Dave Ryan has been a pillar of Minnesota radio for over three decades who last week made the surprise announcement that he would retire from his morning show at KDWB.
If you're a Smashing Pumpkins fan in Minnesota, today may be the greatest day you've ever known. Billy Corgan and his band are bringing their next tour to Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
The Library of Congress revealed this year's list of 25 recordings to be preserved for future generations on the National Recording Registry.
Kyle Busch's family earlier Thursday announced he had been hospitalized with a "severe illness."
Joe Ryan matched his career high with 12 strikeouts over six innings, Ryan Kreidler hit a three-run home run against his former team and the Minnesota Twins beat the Houston Astros 4-1.
While Tim Connelly doesn't see this season as a total failure, he knows the team needs to evolve, whether by internal or external means, to compete for a championship.
The joint filing from attorneys on both sides also said Flores' team has made more than 1,000 document requests, which, along with the subpoenas, seek "wide-ranging information related to distinct hiring and employment practices."
Isaac Paredes hit a two-run homer in the first inning, Jason Alexander scattered four hits over six scoreless innings and the Houston Astros beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1.
Amy Klobuchar is putting her gubernatorial campaign into high gear. She faces no significant opposition in the race for the DFL endorsement and her existing record of statewide wins is formidable.
The legislation establishes a list of requirements aimed at improving transparency and reducing conflicts within HOAs. Minnesota estimates that 25% of its residents live in an HOA, and 82% of new homes are built within one.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Dana Ohman, an attorney who handles HOA disputes, about some of the most common questions homeowners have.
Sen. Tina Smith is using her last months in office to vocally campaign for progressive and environmental causes. She hopes that a progressive will succeed her when Minnesotans go to the polls next November.
The sign is 51 feet tall and 63 feet wide. And when it was built 85 years ago it was one of the largest neon signs in the entire country.
There's a place in Wabasha County, Minnesota, where people go wild for wildflowers.
For nearly 50 years, Farmamerica has been sowing agricultural knowledge near Waseca, Minnesota.
The carillon has 56 bells, and the Mayo Clinic said that makes it one of the largest instruments in the world and the largest instrument in Minnesota.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, including in Minnesota, they're becoming an unlikely canvas for creativity.
If Minnesota lawmakers won't vote on a bill, why can't the people? That's what Carol from Stillwater wants to know after the gun reform bill never made it to the House floor. In Good Question, Jeff Wagner explains how statewide ballot measures are created.
Dozens of recreational marijuana dispensaries can now be found across Minnesota. Many of them opened last year, but it's still relatively new. And if you've visited dispensaries in other states, the rules can be different.
President Trump's idea to save drivers a few dollars at the pump could cost them in the long run.
More people than the entire population of Minneapolis, or half a million, were estimated to go fishing in Minnesota this past weekend. WCCO looks at how the tradition stacks up with other outdoor events that keep the state's economy running.
A deadly virus that's killed cruise ship passengers can be traced to small critters found hiding in homes.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
We warm up over Memorial Day weekend with Saturday temperatures hitting the 70s and Sunday hitting the 80s. However, there is a chance for rain. Chief meteorologist Chris Shaffer breaks down the timing and shares just how much rain we could see.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
After a brief cooldown on Friday, we'll see a major warm-up over Memorial Day weekend.
The bulk of our Memorial Day weekend is looking nice with ample sunshine and warmer temps, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
We’ll have a couple of seasonably cool couple of days heading into Memorial Day weekend.
We warm up over Memorial Day weekend with Saturday temperatures hitting the 70s and Sunday hitting the 80s. However, there is a chance for rain. Chief meteorologist Chris Shaffer breaks down the timing and shares just how much rain we could see.
As Minnesotans get ready for Memorial Day weekend and travel, they're also keeping an eye on gas prices.
Senior citizens had their own senior prom.
The Medicaid freeze impacting over a million Minnesotans doesn't look to be thawing anytime soon.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced criminal charges against 15 people Thursday morning in a series of Medicaid fraud schemes that prosecutors say cost taxpayers $90 million.