YouTube journalist Nick Shirley investigated potential fraudulent scams in Minnesota involving fake daycares. Further proof shows the estimated fraud ranges from $7 billion to $10 billion, with 1,020 companies in total, and over 800 being Somalian companies with some having connections to the terrorist group al-Shabaab, according to Shirley in the YouTube video, “I Investigated Minnesota’s Billion Dollar Fraud Scandal.”
David Hoch did research for nine years after noticing that a daycare near him, ABC Learning Center, had blacked-out windows with no children present. When Shirley and Hoch attempted to confront the business by pretending to have a son named Joey and asking if the child could enroll, the woman at the door was silent and shook her head. The daycare is allotted to hold 90 children and has collected over $3 million in three years, according to Shirley in the YouTube video, “I Investigated Minnesota’s Billion Dollar Fraud Scandal.”
Afterward, the two visited several other daycare centers with the same inquiry, and the responses were the same. Though it was the middle of the day, there were no children on the playground. Those who live near the facilities claim they have not seen children in the buildings since 2017, according to Shirley in the YouTube video, “I Investigated Minnesota’s Billion Dollar Fraud Scandal.”
Creative Minds Daycare Center was shut down by the government due to multiple violations. However, it was reportedly re-opened the next day and renamed as Super Kids Daycare. The facility continued to receive over $2.25 million with no children present, according to Shirley in the YouTube video, “I Investigated Minnesota’s Billion Dollar Fraud Scandal.”
A lack of government oversight is believed to be one of the main causes for the fraud becoming as large as it has. Gov. Tim Walz has been held accountable by citizens of Minnesota due to writing checks without cross-checking to confirm a legitimate business, according to whitehouse.gov.
Walz and his administration have been questioned about the fraud accusations dated back to 2019. When asked, he was quoted as saying that criticisms of Somali organizations were racist and untruthful, according to cbsnews.com.
Minnesota citizens fear that al-Shabaab has been funded by money being laundered and sent abroad, according to nytimes.com.
The Trump Administration has begun investigations to arrest and convict the criminals of fraud. The Department of Justice has arrested 98 individuals with 64 being convicted for their crimes. There are also 130 search warrants that have been sent out to many daycare and health facilities that are under investigation for fraud, according to whitehouse.gov.
The court hearings taking place currently are evaluating Walz’s knowledge of the crimes taken place as well as finding ways to protect innocent Somalis U.S. citizens. Shirley testified in court to provide his evidence, according to whitehouse.gov.
