Tag: ohio

Somali Suitcase Stash: Feds say $130 million moved from Ohio airport to Minnesota on way overseas

ederal agents investigating a Somali immigrant operation that moved massive amounts of cash in suitcases from the Minneapolis airport to overseas have uncovered a new leg of the courier journey: the Columbus, Ohio airport.

Homeland Security Department officials told Just the News that Transportation Security Administration officers tracked and flagged about $136 million in bulk cash in outbound luggage at the passenger checkpoints at John Glenn Columbus International Airport since November 2023.

The cash movements were made by U.S. citizens of Somali origin who flew out of the Columbus airport en route to either the airports in Minneapolis or Atlanta, and the couriers always declared the cash as legally required on documents, officials said.

“Typically, when they go to Minneapolis, they drop off the cash and then a subsequent courier travels abroad from Minneapolis to Dubai through Amsterdam,” one official familiar with the investigation told Just the News on Tuesday, speaking only on condition of anonymity.

Multiple Somali communities involved

The officials said they appear to have uncovered a massive cash movement operation that gathered money from multiple Somali immigrant communities in the West, Midwest and South that eventually brought luggage filled with currency to Minneapolis for flights overseas.

Just the News reported exclusively last week that TSA detected nearly $700 million in cash in luggage leaving the Minneapolis airport in 2024 and 2025, frequently headed on a route to Amsterdam and then Dubai where U.S. officials lost the tracking. The TSA agents routinely alerted investigators during the Biden years, but there was little interest in probing the money movements further until President Donald Trump took office last year.

The cash movements out of Minnesota’s largest airports by the Somali immigrant couriers were 90 to 99 times larger than the total amounts moved out of major international airports like John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City or Seattle and Atlanta, officials said.

As investigators began tracking the money backwards throughout its journey, they discovered the operation in Columbus, officials said Tuesday.

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Arrest Made in Connection with Murder of Ohio Dentist and Wife

Police have arrested the ex-husband of the Ohio dentist’s wife fatally shot in a double homicide.

Michael McKee was arrested in the Chicago area on Saturday.

Police obtained an arrest warrant for McKee after it was discovered through surveillance footage that his car was near the crime scene on the night of the double murder, 10TV reported, citing court records.

McKee was charged with murder.

Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, were found shot to death in their home last Tuesday morning after police conducted a welfare check.

Dr. Tepe was shot multiple times, and his wife suffered one gunshot wound to the chest.

Their two children were found in the home crying, but were not physically harmed.

Police were called to conduct a welfare check after Dr. Tepe, who was known for being punctual, failed to show up to work at Athens Dental Depot.

Athens Dental Depot owner, Dr. Mark Valrose, told 911 dispatchers that Dr. Tepe always shows up to work on time.

“He is always on time and he would contact us if there was any issues,” Dr. Valrose told dispatchers, according to WSYX.

“I don’t know how else to say this but we are very very concerned. This is very out of character for him. We can’t get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing.”

Video previously released by Ohio authorities appeared to show McKee walking down an alley near the Tepe home at the time of the double homicide.

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Vivek Ramaswamy’s bodyguard hit with federal drug trafficking charges over fentanyl and meth dealing allegations

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s family bodyguard was arrested last week and hit with federal drug trafficking charges after authorities found pills containing fentanyl, methamphetamine and MDMA, as well as steroids, at the home he shared with his bodybuilder wife. 

Justin Salsburey, 43, and his wife, Ruthann Rankin, were taken into custody on Dec. 30, following the execution of a search warrant that allegedly discovered a trove of illegal drugs – some stashed in nicotine pouch containers – at the couple’s home, jail records and court documents show. 

Salsburey was employed by a private security firm contracted by Ramaswamy’s family to provide protective services, a campaign spokesperson told The Post, noting that the family was “alarmed to hear this disturbing news.” 

“Upon being informed of this matter in recent days, the outside security firm immediately removed the individual from the security detail,” Connie Luck, a spokesperson for the Republican gubernatorial candidate, said.  

“Prior to employment, the individual cleared multiple background checks conducted by the security company, as well as FBI and BCI background checks, most recently conducted by OSU Medical Center in September 2025,” Luck continued.

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Ohio Police Release Video of Person of Interest in Mysterious Killing of Dentist and Wife

Columbus, Ohio, police released new video of a ‘person of interest’ in the mysterious killing of a dentist and his wife.

As previously reported, a dentist and his wife were gunned down in their Columbus, Ohio, home last week, and police still have not identified a suspect.

Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, were found shot to death in their home last Tuesday morning after police conducted a welfare check.

Their two children were found in the home crying, but were not physically harmed.

Police were called to conduct a welfare check after Dr. Tepe, who was known for being punctual, failed to show up to work at Athens Dental Depot.

Athens Dental Depot owner, Dr. Mark Valrose, told 911 dispatchers that Dr. Tepe always shows up to work on time.

“He is always on time and he would contact us if there was any issues,” Dr. Valrose told dispatchers, according to WSYX. “I don’t know how else to say this but we are very very concerned. This is very out of character for him. We can’t get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing.”

Police said there was no sign of forced entry, and no weapon was found at the scene of the crime, so they don’t believe it was a murder-suicide.

Dr. Tepe was shot multiple times, and his wife suffered one gunshot wound to the chest.

New footage released by Ohio police shows what appears to be a male wearing a dark colored hoodie and jeans walking down an alley near the Tepe’s home during the time of the double homicide.

“Detectives believe the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Tepe occurred sometime between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m. on the morning of December 30th in the upstairs of their residence. Recovered video footage shows a person of interest walking in the alley near the Tepe’s residence during that timeframe,” Columbus, Ohio, police said on Facebook.

“We have received and are continuing to receive numerous tips from the community, which our detectives are following up on. If you have information that could lead to the identity of the person in this video, please call 614-645-2228 or use the QR code provided. Anonymous tips may also be made to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477,” the police said.

“We want to thank the community for the tips we have received. We know there are questions and concerns surrounding this tragic incident. Detectives are working diligently to solve this case. We will continue to update you as the investigation progresses,” the police added.

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“More to Come” – HHS Deputy Secretary Hints Something Big Is Coming as Questions Swirl Around Somali UN Ambassador’s Ties to Ohio Health Agency Convicted of Medicaid Fraud

The Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is signaling that major revelations are imminent involving Somalia’s sitting ambassador to the United Nations, a man who now presides over the UN Security Council while allegedly tied to an Ohio healthcare company convicted of Medicaid fraud.

The Gateway Pundit previously reported on troubling new evidence showing that Abukar Dahir Osman, Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, once worked deep inside Ohio’s Medicaid bureaucracy and later ran — or was formally associated with — an Ohio home healthcare company now appearing on a federal fraud exclusion list.

Osman, often referred to by the nickname “Baale,” has served as Somalia’s UN ambassador since 2017. As of this month, he holds one of the most powerful rotating posts in global diplomacy: President of the UN Security Council.

In that role, Osman:

  • Oversees Security Council meetings
  • Sets the Council’s agenda
  • Manages resolutions and presidential statements
  • Speaks for the A3+ bloc (African nations plus Caribbean representation) on major global conflicts, including Afghanistan and Yemen

But long before wielding global authority in New York, Osman built his career inside Ohio’s taxpayer-funded welfare and Medicaid system.

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Mystery: Police Still Searching For Suspect After Dentist and Wife Gunned Down in Their Columbus, Ohio, Home

A dentist and his wife were gunned down in their Columbus, Ohio, home earlier this week and police still have not identified a suspect.

Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, were found shot to death in their home Tuesday morning after police conducted a welfare check.

Their two children were found in the home crying but were not physically harmed.

Police were called to conduct a welfare check after Dr. Tepe, who was known for being punctual, failed to show up to work at Athens Dental Depot.

Athens Dental Depot owner, Dr. Mark Valrose told 911 dispatchers that Dr. Tepe always shows up to work on time.

“He is always on time and he would contact us if there was any issues,” Dr. Valrose told dispatchers, according to WSYX. “I don’t know how else to say this but we are very very concerned. This is very out of character for him. We can’t get in touch with his wife which is probably the more concerning thing.”

Police said there was no sign of forced entry and no weapon was found at the scene of the crime so they don’t believe it was a murder-suicide.

Dr. Tepe was shot multiple times and his wife suffered one gunshot wound to the chest.

Police cameras posted on a utility pole near the Tepe’s home may have captured the killer, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Athens Dental Depot announced they will be closed for the remainder of the week.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the sudden passing of our dear colleague and friend, Dr. Spencer Tepe, as well as his wife Monique. He will be deeply missed by our team and the many patients he cared for over the years. Our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with their families and loved ones during this very difficult time,” Athens Dental Depot wrote on Facebook.

“Our practice will be closed for the remainder of this week. If you have an urgent dental concern, please leave us a message on our emergency line and we will follow up as soon as possible,” the dental practice said.

“We will assess our availability for next week’s appointments and be in touch shortly,” they said. “We ask for your continued patience, support, and privacy as our team mourns these terrible losses,” they said.

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Somalia’s UN Ambassador, Who Previously Oversaw Adult Medicaid, Also Served as CEO at a Company Reportedly Placed on a Federal Fraud Exclusion List and Banned from Receiving Medicaid Funds

While Ohio taxpayers are being told to accept daycare fraud as merely “the cost of doing business,” a stunning new report has surfaced that raises serious questions about who has been operating inside the state’s taxpayer-funded welfare ecosystem and how far those connections now extend onto the global stage.

As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, RINO Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s office has brushed off mounting concerns over potential large-scale fraud in taxpayer-funded daycare centers—particularly in Columbus, home to the second-largest Somali population in the United States—as merely “the cost of doing business,” even after two independent journalists uncovered disturbing evidence of potential ghost daycare operations in Columbus, Ohio.

Speaking to the Columbus Dispatch, DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney openly acknowledged that daycare fraud has been “known to the state for decades,” suggesting that outrage from taxpayers is simply the product of naivety.

“If people are out there who could not contemplate that people were trying to defraud the public through day care centers, I understand it’s new to them … but it’s been known to the state for decades,” Tierney said. “So therefore, we have robust anti-fraud measures to try and stop this, this is something that is unfortunately the cost of doing business.”

A new bombshell report now reveals that Somalia’s sitting ambassador to the United Nations once worked inside Ohio’s Medicaid bureaucracy, and later ran or represented a healthcare company reportedly placed on a federal fraud exclusion list.

Abukar Dahir Osman, often referred to by the nickname “Baale,” currently serves as Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a post he has held since 2017.

As of this month, Osman holds one of the most powerful rotating positions in global diplomacy: President of the UN Security Council.

In that role, he:

  • Oversees Security Council meetings
  • Sets the Council’s agenda
  • Manages resolutions and presidential statements
  • Speaks for the A3+ bloc (African nations plus Caribbean representation) on issues like Afghanistan and Yemen

But before assuming global authority in New York, Osman spent years embedded inside Ohio’s public welfare system.

Osman relocated to the United States in the late 1980s and built his career in Ohio’s taxpayer-funded social services apparatus.

From 1999 to 2012, he worked at the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services, serving as:

  • Case Manager
  • Social Program Specialist

Osman was also a supervisor for the Medicaid office in Franklin County, Ohio, from 2007 to 2012.

Mr. Osman also founded Beacon Educational Services, according to his profile on the UN.  He served as a consultant for the organization from 2007 to 2010.

The most alarming revelation involves Progressive Health Care Services Inc., an Ohio-based home healthcare company linked to Osman.

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Report Alleges Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Whose Ohio Healthcare Company Receives U.S. Tax Dollars, Also Controls LLC at SAME ADDRESS as Somali Money Transfer Firm Accused of Terror Financing

A new report alleges that Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali, a U.S. citizen whose Ohio-based healthcare company has raked in millions from American taxpayers, also controls an LLC operating out of the same address as a Somali money transfer firm previously accused of funneling funds to terrorist organizations.

Abdisalam Abdi Ali was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia in May 2025.

Born in Somalia but building a life in the U.S., Ali established Ritechoice Healthcare Services LLC in Toledo, Ohio, over a decade ago. Shockingly, two additional healthcare companies operate out of the same office suite.

The company specializes in home health care, providing services such as nursing aides and therapy to vulnerable populations, including the elderly and disabled.

These operations have reportedly received substantial funding from U.S. government programs like Medicaid and Medicare, which reimburse providers for caring for low-income patients.

But the plot thickens with Ali’s business partner, Abdul J. Surey, who was listed as president of Ritechoice Healthcare Services LLC, according to LibsofTikTok.

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Ethics Questions Swirl Around Somalia’s UN Ambassador Tied To Ohio Healthcare Company

Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Abukar Dahir Osman, is facing growing scrutiny over his connections to the Ohio healthcare company Progressive Health Care Services Inc. This comes as federal investigations into suspected Somali-linked welfare fraud, stretching from Minnesota to Washington, Ohio, and Maine, continue to intensify, with allegations that some entities (daycares, healthcare, or transportation service companies) were merely front operations to extract taxpayer funds.

The story surrounding Osman is certainly a strange one, with the news and analysis outlet Horn Diplomat publishing a report titled “Ethics Questions Surround Somalia’s UN Envoy, as U.S. Healthcare Fraud Scandals Heighten Scrutiny.”

Here’s the report:

Public corporate filings and professional records have raised questions about transparency and potential conflicts of interest involving Abukar Dahir Osman, Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

The scrutiny comes as Somalia prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council on January 1, 2026, a role that places the country at the center of global diplomatic decision-making on peace, security and sanctions.

Ohio state corporate records show that Osman was listed as the statutory agent for Progressive Health Care Services Inc, a Cincinnati-based home healthcare company, while simultaneously serving as Somalia’s top diplomat at the United Nations.

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RINO Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s Office Dismisses Daycare Fraud Allegations as ‘Cost of Doing Business’

RINO Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s office has brushed off growing concerns about potential massive fraud in taxpayer-funded daycare centers, particularly in Columbus, which boasts the second-largest Somali population in the United States, as simply “the cost of doing business.”

The governor’s office said that attempts to use daycare centers for fraud in Ohio have been “known to the state for decades,” and implied that those who did not think it was an issue are naive.

Speaking to the Columbus Dispatch, Dan Tierney, DeWine’s spokesperson, denied any recent “surge” in fraud but acknowledged that the governor’s office is aware of public interest in the matter.

“If people are out there who could not contemplate that people were trying to defraud the public through day care centers, I understand it’s new to them … but it’s been known to the state for decades,” Tierney said. “So therefore, we have robust anti-fraud measures to try and stop this, this is something that is unfortunately the cost of doing business.”

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