American authorities are intensifying efforts to break up complex fraud operations after new findings showed that public funds stolen in Minnesota were moved through international money laundering routes, with some of the money ending up in countries such as Kenya.
The investigations point to organised schemes that abused federal aid programmes meant to support vulnerable people, especially children and low-income families.
The renewed push was publicly confirmed on Sunday evening, December 28, when FBI Director Kash Patel announced that more agents and investigative resources had been sent to Minnesota. He explained that the decision was made even before widespread discussion on social media, showing that the bureau had already identified serious risks linked to fraud in the state.
According to Patel, the FBI remains focused on protecting taxpayer money and ensuring that programmes meant to help children are not exploited.
Patel said investigations uncovered fake vendors, shell companies and complex money laundering systems used to hide stolen funds.
These efforts have already led to 78 indictments and 57 convictions. He also revealed that some suspects went as far as trying to interfere with the justice process itself.
One of the most serious cases involved an attempt to bribe a juror with about Ksh15 million, equivalent to USD120,000. The individuals involved, including Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, were charged, pleaded guilty and received heavy sentences. Some were jailed for up to 10 years and ordered to pay nearly USD48 million in restitution.
The FBI update followed an independent investigation by American YouTuber Nick Shirley, whose video attracted more than one million views. In his work, Shirley visited several daycares and healthcare providers in Minnesota that were receiving large sums of public money.
He reported that some of these facilities did not have a single child or active patient, raising fresh concerns about abuse of state-funded programmes. These claims are still under review and have not yet been tested in court.
Federal prosecutors have previously linked a large share of the stolen funds to the “Feeding Our Future” programme and Housing Stabilisation Services. These initiatives were designed to support families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigators say some of the money was sent abroad and invested in assets such as real estate, including properties in Kenya.
According to court records, more than Ksh32 billion, or about USD250 million, was stolen from programmes meant to feed hungry children. This has made the Feeding Our Future case one of the largest fraud cases in United States history.
Documents show that part of the stolen money was used to buy high-end apartments in areas such as Eastlands in Nairobi and along the Kenyan coast.
Political debate has also intensified. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, with more than 100,000 people in 2025.
President Donald Trump has openly accused the state of being a centre for fraud and has made controversial remarks targeting the Somali community. In November, he ended certain legal protections for Somalis, further raising tensions as authorities work to separate criminal responsibility from community issues.