Bessent, Patel announce fraud-related arrests in Minneapolis

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and FBI Director Kash Patel on Friday announced that federal agents had executed 17 search warrants in Minneapolis this week, resulting in four arrests, linked to millions in allegedly fraudulent receipt of funds.

Patel and Bessent touted the work of multiple agencies in the operation, including through both the FBI and the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Several of the search warrants were linked to child care facilities and their owners. Fraudulent daycare centers have emerged as one of the most prominent operations in the wake of viral reporting from YouTuber Nick Shirley, who documented a string of allegedly fraudulent childcare centers linked to the Somali ex-pat community in Minneapolis.

Politics

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The pair made the announcement in Minnesota, a state that has attracted considerable scrutiny over alleged fraud operations. Since January 2025, Bessent said, the Trump administration has identified a total of $260 billion in fraud and prevented as much as $70 billion per year from going to fraudulent recipients.

Bessent also highlighted the establishment of the $25 million fraud whistleblower fund.

"Speaking up has long carried cost for whistleblowers. Now, under President Trump, it can offer a reward," Bessent said.

Vice President JD Vance had been slated to participate in the press conference, but abruptly canceled.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.

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