FBI director touts fraud-related charges tied to 4 arrests during Minnesota visit
FBI Minneapolis and partner agencies executed 17 search warrants on Thursday in connection with four people who were indicted on fraud-related charges, FBI Director Kash Patel said.
Three warrants were executed at a childcare center, two at the owners' homes and two others at an Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention unit, according to Patel, who discussed the arrests at a news conference in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Friday afternoon.
One arrested individual worked for Aspen Associates in Minneapolis, which state records show offers adult rehabilitative mental health services, the FBI director said. They were allegedly indicted on 11 counts of healthcare fraud and are accused of causing roughly $8 million in intended loss.
An individual tied to American Home Healthcare was arrested and indicted on six counts of healthcare fraud involving an alleged intended loss of roughly $3.7 million in intended loss, Patel said. A third arrested individual faces eight counts of healthcare fraud tied to about $10 million in intended loss, while a fourth was indicted on one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and accused of nearly $20 million in intended fraud and loss, according to officials.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation assisted with "investigative activity" at several sites suspected of fraud on Thursday, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Search warrants were executed at two Twin Cities autism services providers the same day, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the FBI confirmed.
Bessent, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson were with Patel in St. Cloud on Friday.
The Treasury secretary said at the news conference that federal officials have created an online portal where people can submit tips about suspected fraud.
"Until now, any citizen who detected fraud was forced to navigate a maze of tip lines scattered across law enforcement agencies. No more," Bessent said.
He said anyone who submits a tip to the $25 million "fraud whistleblower incentive program" that leads to a conviction or enforcement action may be eligible for a $30,000 reward.
Vice President JD Vance was originally scheduled to be in St. Cloud on Friday, but the Justice Department later confirmed he would not attend and canceled his appearance.
Also Thursday, President Trump canceled rallies planned for this weekend in Iowa and Kansas, the Associated Press reported. The Republican National Committee said Trump will instead take part in telerallies, or rallies held by phone, in the final days before the midterm elections.
Mr. Trump is still scheduled to hold an in-person rally Friday in Daytona Beach, Florida.
