A recent report suggests that millions of taxpayer dollars lost to extensive welfare fraud in Minnesota might have ended up in the hands of al-Shabab, a terrorist group based in Somalia. This organization, aligned with al-Qaeda, poses a significant threat to U.S. interests and is said to have potentially received funds stolen in various scams by criminals operating within the state.
Federal counterterrorism sources indicated that Minnesota taxpayers, perhaps unwittingly, may be significant contributors to al-Shabab’s funding. An informant connected to a federal investigation into individuals in Minnesota attempting to join foreign terrorist organizations mentioned that, “This is a third-rail conversation.” They hinted at broader implications tied to these funds.
Minnesota has faced several high-profile welfare fraud scandals over the past few years. Notably, the “Feed Our Future” scheme involved a conspiracy to misappropriate $300 million from a federal program designed to provide meals for children during the pandemic, which led to 56 convictions.
In recent months, investigations have revealed another multimillion-dollar fraud scheme aimed at the state’s Medicaid housing and autism services programs. The state’s leading prosecutor believes billions of taxpayer dollars have been unlawfully siphoned away. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson emphasized the extensive nature of these schemes, linking various names and incidents to a larger web of fraud.
Keish Megan, a Somali-American and former fraud investigator for the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, expressed deep disappointment that a considerable number of those involved in these scams were from the Somali community. This feeling of betrayal seems to resonate within sections of the community.
On the political front, former Republican Minnesota Senator David Gaither criticized the state’s Democratic party and media for allegedly neglecting to address fraud within the politically influential Somali community. He noted that, politically speaking, alienating this community could be detrimental for politicians aiming to win statewide elections.
The report suggests that ill-gotten welfare funds are funneled to al-Shabab via a network of informal money transfer systems called “hawala.” Glenn Kearns, a former detective with the Seattle police and part of the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force, recounted how records showed individuals sending money back home were also collecting welfare benefits, implying a connection to welfare fraud.
Kearns later confirmed that a significant amount of cash was indeed being transferred to the al-Shabab network, albeit possibly without the senders’ full awareness. A former member of the Minneapolis JTTF stated that all financial activities among Somali communities in the U.S. and abroad contribute indirectly to al-Shabab, indicating that a portion of every dollar sent back home can benefit the group.
