Two Philadelphia-based men, Anthony Waddel Jefferson and Lester Brown, have been indicted by federal prosecutors for siphoning millions of dollars from Minnesota’s taxpayer-funded programs. The men allegedly traveled to Minneapolis after a friend told them the state offered “a good opportunity to make money” through federally funded programs meant to help people with disabilities and those suffering from addiction.
Unlike previous cases in the scandal, Jefferson and Brown appear to have no ties to Minnesota’s Somali-American community or the state itself. They set up a company to provide housing and services to individuals who qualified for Medicaid, but allegedly submitted fake and inflated bills for reimbursement.
The investigation, which spans $18 billion spent on social programs since 2018, has raised red flags about legitimacy providers and led to a wider crackdown on the state’s handling of federal funds. The Trump administration has stepped up attacks on Minnesota’s leadership, including Governor Tim Walz, who has taken steps to implement more safeguards for taxpayer-funded services.
This case is part of a string of multimillion-dollar fraud schemes that have plagued the state, resulting in 62 convictions and estimated taxpayer losses exceeding $1 billion.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/minnesota-fraud-tourists-indictments