Justice Department announces charges against 15 defendants in Medicaid fraud schemes

Eva Herscowitz, The Minnesota Star Tribune on May 21, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

MINNEAPOLIS — Federal officials in Minneapolis on Thursday announced criminal charges against 15 people in connection with Medicaid fraud schemes in Minnesota that targeted more than $90 million in taxpayer dollars.

The development, announced at a news conference featuring top Trump administration appointees, is the latest public update in the federal government’s sprawling investigation into social services fraud in the state.

The announcement came just hours after Aimee Bock, the convicted ringleader of the Feeding Our Future pandemic-era fraud scheme, was sentenced to more than 41 years in prison.

Colin McDonald, assistant attorney general for the national fraud enforcement division, said the defendants pilfered money from seven state-managed Medicaid programs. They included a now-defunct housing support initiative, a program that helps children with autism and another that assists disabled people with independent living.

McDonald also announced the expansion of a health care fraud “strike force” to Minnesota and the hiring of 15 additional prosecutors focused on combating Medicaid wrongdoing across the country.

Flanked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, he issued a warning to people who have bilked state programs.

“My message to the fraudsters is this: Eat, drink and be merry today, because your days of frolicking and freedom are numbered,” McDonald said.

“We are doing everything we can to find you, and when we do, we will prosecute you, and we will claw back every dollar you have stolen from the American people.”

Responding to the indictments, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) said it has referred 300 potential fraud cases to law enforcement since the beginning of 2025. The department also said it has stopped payments to 636 providers, including businesses connected to some of the defendants.

The Department of Justice released a list of those indicted in connection with alleged fraud schemes across a variety of Medicaid programs:

The Minnesota Star Tribune reached out to lawyers listed for the defendants; they declined to comment or did not respond.

Federal officials at the news conference at the U.S. Attorneys Office praised the speed and scope of indictments despite a wave of prosecutors resigning from the U.S. Attorney’s Office over frustration with Trump administration mandates. Kennedy called the charges “the largest autism fraud bust in American history.”

Daniel Rosen, Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney, said the state has the “unfortunate distinction” of bringing national attention to Medicaid fraud.

Part of that reputation has to do with Nick Shirley, a conservative influencer who claimed to uncover widespread day care wrongdoing in the state in a viral YouTube video. Shirley was at the news conference and earned a shout-out from Oz.

Oz, who has been the face of efforts to freeze billions in Medicaid funding to Minnesota, said the state has yet to comply with requirements that would lead to a release of those funds.

“We’re going to make as many visits as we need to Minnesota,” Oz said.

McDonald also criticized Minnesota officials for not doing enough to cooperate in fraud fighting efforts. Gov. Tim Walz has faced heat for his handling of the crisis, one reason he abandoned his bid for a third term.

Brian Evans, a spokesman for the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, said federal law enforcement agents in the state regularly work with Medicaid fraud investigators in the Attorney General’s Office and “have never once expressed dissatisfaction.”

As federal scrutiny has intensified, the state DHS has repeatedly pointed to its efforts to root out wrongdoing, including freezing enrollment of new providers and toughening licensing standards.

The department’s Inspector General James Clark said in a statement that the agency cut off payments in December 2024 to two companies connected to individuals indicted for allegedly defrauding the autism support program.

He added the agency withheld payments from other companies connected to Thursday’s charges throughout 2025 and 2026.

Clark said the state is “working more aggressively than ever to prevent and stop Medicaid fraud,” Clark said. “As our efforts continue, we fully expect to see more charges.”

The indictments come a month after federal officers raided several sites in the Twin Cities area in connection with its fraud investigation, including autism and child care centers. Further details surrounding those operations remain unknown as search warrant affidavits supporting the actions are sealed.

_________

(Eleanor Hildebrandt, Allison Kite, Bill Lukitsch, Sarah Nelson contributed to this report.)