Tag: taxes

Here We Go Again: Walz’s New Paid Leave Law May Let People Collect Without Working

Some of us have been sounding the alarm bells on the following massive fraud scheme that’s about to hit Minnesota like a January blizzard. Tim Walz and the Democrats who run the state approved “family leave” legislation that would, ostensibly, give Minnesota workers up to 20 weeks of paid leave for the birth of a child or to care for a spouse, child, or other family member with a serious health condition.

But as this writer noted earlier this month, it’s fertile ground for another round of billions of dollars of fraud, courtesy the Minnesota taxpayer.

Going into effect on January 1, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Law means workers would get not only leave but also continued benefits from their employer. Unfortunately, there are no sound mechanisms in place to verify that the employee is actually caring for the designated individual while on leave. Troy Reding, a restaurant owner, said he was worried about how employers would handle multiple leave requests at the same time.

But now, according to Dustin Grage, who has done tremendous work exposing the fraud in Minnesota, the law has a glaring loophole that allows people applying for the benefit to have no job at all.

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FEMA Grants $250 Million to Track Drones During World Cup

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $250 million for anti-drone efforts in 11 states that will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer matches, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a Dec. 30 statement.

“Recipients can use this money to strengthen their ability to detect, identify, track, or mitigate unmanned aircraft systems,” DHS said. “In recent years, criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their use of this technology.”

The money is being awarded under the Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program set up under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law by President Donald Trump in July.

“With today’s C-UAS Grant Program award—along with the new authorities granted in the SAFER SKIES Act—state and local law enforcement agencies now have the tools they need to keep their communities safe,” DHS said.

“This is especially critical as officials across the country prepare for the United States to host the FIFA World Cup, which is expected to be the largest sporting event in world history.”

The C-UAS Grant Program allows DHS to provide $500 million in federal funding over two years to boost local and state capabilities to combat drone threats, according to DHS.

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TSA Agent Observed Somalis Carrying Millions of Dollars in Suitcases Heading Overseas

A former TSA Agent claims that Somalis transported millions in cash through airports during her time as an agent.  She saw the money herself.  She also notes that there are paper trails and videos of this trafficking.

This might account for where the estimated $9 billion stolen in Minnesota’s sprawling social-services scam, orchestrated mainly by members of its Somali community, went.  This $9 billion is nearly equivalent to the entire economy of Somalia.

The amount stolen accounts for roughly half of the $18 billion in total federal funds provided to the Minnesota-run services since 2018, as Democratic Gov. Tim Walz continues to take heat for his handling of the debacle.

By comparison to the $9 billion figure, Somalia’s entire GDP was under $12 billion in 2024, according to the World Bank.

In an interview with Liz Collin at Alpha News, a former TSA Agent says that, in hindsight, the suitcases filled with millions of dollars in cash seem like an obvious connection to the estimated billions of dollars in fraud.

While traveling with large amounts of money is not illegal, as long as it’s documented, she also explains how much money she saw, how law enforcement officers were contacted, and how little was done about it.

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Beyond Daycare: How Somali Fraud Spread Across Nutrition, Housing, and Autism Programs

Nick Shirley’s viral video brought attention to widespread daycare fraud within Minnesota’s Somali community. Further investigation reveals Somali participation in multiple benefit schemes, ranging from nutrition programs to housing and autism services.

Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that, of the 92 defendants charged in child nutrition, housing services, and autism program schemes, 82 are Somali Americans.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson called these programs “staggering, industrial-scale fraud” and stated that when investigations are complete, total fraud could exceed $9 billion. Documented theft already includes $300 million from Feeding Our Future, nearly $220 million from autism programs, and $302 million from Housing Stabilization Services, totaling $822 million.

The Somali-linked nonprofit Feeding Our Future was founded in 2016 and during COVID-19 claimed to distribute meals to schoolchildren but instead stole at least $250 million while providing few or no meals. The scheme listed 299 meal sites claiming to serve 90 million meals in less than two years, more than 120,000 meals per day. One FBI-surveilled site claiming 6,000 meals per day actually averaged around 40 visitors.

Federal prosecutors allege only around 3% of funding was spent on food, with the remainder funneled to conspirators. Federal prosecutors indicted 78 suspects, with more than 50 pleading guilty and seven found guilty at trial. State officials spotted early fraud signs in July 2019. When Minnesota’s Department of Education tried to stop payments in December 2020, Feeding Our Future sued the state, alleging racial discrimination. A judge found no legal basis for stopping payments.

Current and former federal sources confirmed some funds ended up with al-Qaida-linked terror group al-Shabaab in Somalia. One recovered text message read “Please send $1,000 to Mogadishu Bakara,” referring to a market previously controlled by al-Shabaab. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced his department will investigate whether tax dollars from Minnesota’s public assistance programs made their way to designated terrorists.

Thompson explained the connection between fraud schemes: “Many defendants in these cases were getting money from multiple government benefit programs, many Medicaid programs. This is how these investigations grew out of Feeding our Future. I think roughly two dozen or so Feeding our Future defendants were getting money from autism clinics and that’s why, that is how we learned about the autism fraud.”

Widespread fraud in Minnesota’s autism services system followed the same pattern as other scams. The first defendant charged was Asha Farhan Hassan, who, along with her partners, approached parents in the Somali community to recruit their children into Smart Therapy. The children did not have autism diagnoses, but Hassan and her partners worked with professionals to have the recruited children improperly qualified for autism services.

Parents received monthly cash kickbacks ranging from approximately $300 to $1,500 per child. Prosecutors also charged another defendant who approached parents in the Somali community to recruit children for his clinic, which ultimately submitted $6 million in claims for Medicaid reimbursement.

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US To Fund $8.6 Billion Boeing Contract for Israeli F-15 Fighter Jets

The US Department of War announced on Monday that Boeing has been awarded a contract worth up to $8.6 billion to sell Israel new F-15 fighter jets as part of a deal funded by US military aid.

The Israeli Defense Ministry announced the initial deal in November 2024 and said it would be funded by US aid that was included in a massive foreign assistance bill President Biden signed into law earlier that year. At the time, the F-15 deal was valued at $5.2 billion and included 25 new F-15s.

The updated contract with Boeing has a ceiling of up to $8.6 billion since it includes an option to purchase an additional 25 F-15s. The Pentagon said in its announcement that the work on the fighter jets will be “performed at St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be complete by December 31, 2035.”

The US has continued to provide Israel with massive amounts of weapons despite its genocidal campaign in Gaza, which, according to several studies, has likely killed more than 100,000 Palestinians, including tens of thousands of women and children. US military aid and direct military intervention have also supported Israel’s wars in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iran, and the occupation of the West Bank.

According to Brown University’s Costs of War Project, in the two years following the October 7 attack, the US government spent at least $21.7 billion on military aid to Israel and another $9.65 billion to $12.07 billion on US military operations in the region in support of Israel.

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YouTuber Nick Shirley Says He’s Receiving Death Threats Saying He’ll Be ‘Kirked’ After Bombshell Video Exposes $110 Million Somali Daycare Fraud Scheme in Minnesota

YouTuber Nick Shirley has revealed he’s receiving death threats and warnings that he’ll be “Kirked,” a sinister reference to being assassinated, following his viral video that uncovered over $110 million in alleged taxpayer-funded fraud at Somali-run daycare centers in Minnesota

Shirley, 23, who documented empty daycares raking in millions while showing no signs of actual childcare, appeared on the “PBD Podcast” on Wednesday and detailed the harassment, including doxxing of his family and being stalked by Somalis during filming.

The independent journalist’s explosive 42-minute video, published last week, has garnered over 132 million views.

In the footage, Shirley and his team visit multiple daycare facilities in the Minneapolis area, home to one of the largest Somali populations in the U.S., only to find locked doors, no children in sight, and signs of abandonment despite these centers receiving massive government subsidies.

One center alone reportedly pocketed $4 million in taxpayer dollars, with Shirley estimating the total fraud uncovered in a single day at over $110 million.

On the PBD Podcast, hosted by Patrick Bet-David, Shirley described the intense fallout from his exposé.

“I’ve been getting death threats,” Shirley said. “People are telling me I’m going to get Kirked.”

“They’re saying, ‘You’re going to be Kirked … you’ll be the next Kirk.’ And it’s just like, are you kidding me? I hate what’s happening right now,” Shirley said. “I feel bad for my family, honestly, because we didn’t do anything wrong, and yet you guys are coming after me like I’m some sort of villain. My little sister is getting phone calls [from the news]. I’m like, why are you guys doing this?”

The term “Kirked” is a dark reference to the September assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

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Minn. Somali-run day care bizarrely reports their documents were stolen in mysterious break-in — but cops tell a different story

A Somali-run day care in Minneapolis is claiming somebody broke in and stole “important documents,” but cops say the facility didn’t report anything was actually taken. 

The alleged burglary comes as the national spotlight shines on the unfolding multibillion-dollar fraud scandal involving Minnesota human services, with particular scrutiny on day care facilities run by Somali immigrants after dozens of people from the community have been busted for pilfering state funds.

Nasrulah Mohamed, manager of Nakomis Day Care Center, told reporters that a suspect entered through the kitchen at the rear of the facility, damaging a wall and breaking into the building’s office, sometime on Tuesday.

He said the alleged prowler stole “important documentation” including children’s enrollment information, employee documentation and checkbooks.

However “no loss was reported to officers,” according to a preliminary report by the Minneapolis Police Department.

MPD noted that the center later reached out with additional information, but the updated police report was not immediately available.

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Misspelled Minnesota day care closed last week, state claims — on same day owners told The Post it’s up and running

The misspelled day care at the center of viral outrage over the Somali community’s multibillion-dollar fraud scandal shut down last week, the head of Minnesota’s child services department claimed Monday — at the same time that the owners of the facility put on a dog and pony show for The Post to demonstrate that it was really a working day care and not a front.

Tikki Brown, commissioner of Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth and Families, told reporters that her staff found no evidence of fraud at any of the day cares highlighted by YouTuber Nick Shirley.

She stated that the Quality “Learing” Center had closed. 

Apparently the owners of the site — which has gotten up to $4 million in taxpayer funds and racked up dozens of inspection violations — didn’t get the memo.

At least 20 kids were seen entering the Quality “Learing” Center Monday afternoon after being bused in. One employee shouted down The Post’s attempt to ask questions: “Don’t f–king come to this area. Get the f–k out of here,” he said.

The day care says it is open Monday through Thursday from 2 to 10 p.m., and the owner’s son Ibrahim Ali showed up Monday to claim all the allegations were a big misunderstanding.

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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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Lawyer’s daughter who proudly identified as con artist gets sentenced for bank fraud after using taxpayer cash to rent Miami mega-mansion

A former social media influencer who once proudly called herself a ‘con artist’ after scamming the federal government out of $1.5 million in COVID-related disaster loans will now be locked up for even longer.

Danielle Miller, the daughter of lawyer and former New York State Bar Association president Michael Miller, was sentenced Monday to 16 years in Florida state prison, after pleading guilty to 38 counts of fraudulently using personal identification information.

Prosecutors have said Miller came to Florida during the COVID pandemic, traveling to Sarasota with her was Ciera Blas, whom she met while locked up at New York City‘s infamous Rikers Island for using stolen credit card information to book appointments at a luxurious spa in the Upper West Side.

Miller then used others’ identification information to defraud banks throughout the Sunshine State.

The scam finally unraveled when an alert manager notified the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, who arrested her.

But this was not the first time Miller faced jail for bank fraud in the state, even going as far as proudly characterizing herself as a ‘con artist’ in a 2022 New York Magazine article.

That year, she was sentenced to five years in a Florida prison, after she attempted to use a California woman’s passport to obtain more than $8,000 at a Chase bank drive-through window in 2020, according to the Bradenton Herald.

By 2023, federal authorities accused Miller of stealing the identities of more than 10 people to set up bank accounts and obtain loans – which she then used for travel and for lavish purchases, including $27,000-a-month rent at a waterside villa in Miami.

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