{"id":885301,"date":"2026-01-15T08:29:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T14:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/15\/young-journalists-video-exposing-alleged-billion-dollar-fraud-scheme-in-minnesota-goes-viral-like-wildfire\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T08:29:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T14:29:52","slug":"young-journalists-video-exposing-alleged-billion-dollar-fraud-scheme-in-minnesota-goes-viral-like-wildfire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/15\/young-journalists-video-exposing-alleged-billion-dollar-fraud-scheme-in-minnesota-goes-viral-like-wildfire\/","title":{"rendered":"Young Journalist\u2019s Video Exposing Alleged Billion-Dollar Fraud Scheme in Minnesota Goes Viral \u2018Like Wildfire\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A 23-year-old independent YouTube journalist\u2019s video exposing examples of what he calls \u201cpotentially the largest fraud scandal in U.S. history\u201d in Minnesota has racked up more than 90 million views in just two days on X<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>, accelerating a cascading narrative around abuse of social services centered mostly on the state\u2019s Somali population.<\/p>\n

In the 42-minute video, Nick Shirley, wearing a grey hoodie and working with a fellow independent investigator he identifies only as \u201cDavid,\u201d visits a series of social-service oriented businesses in and around the Twin Cities to confront \u201cthe people who are making millions of dollars\u201d from social services including meal programs, housing assistance and health services \u2013 though the biggest piece seems to be childcare centers, where Shirley shows up during weekday business hours to find no children present.<\/p>\n

David says his personal inquiry, which has included his own research and sources at the statehouse in St. Paul, has uncovered more than 1,000 fraudulent service-oriented businesses, more than 800 of which are Somali-owned. He says he began investigating when he noticed childless day-care centers and drivers for a \u201cnon-emergency medical transportation\u201d service based near his office that never carried any passengers.<\/p>\n

In the video, Shirley says the schemes\u2019 now-estimated $9 billion in purported pilfered public funds is \u201cso much fraud it could almost replace the entire GDP of Somalia,\u201d which is estimated at $12 billion.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet,\u201d Shirley wrote in the viral X post<\/a>. \u201cWe uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable. We ALL work way too hard and pay too much in taxes for this to be happening, the fraud must be stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udea8 Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet. We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable<\/p>\n

We ALL\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/E3Penx2o7a<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2014 Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) December 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Minnesota\u2019s unfolding fraud scandal has implicated dozens of businesses and individuals who are accused of enriching themselves via submitting fraudulent claims funded by both state and federal taxpayer dollars. Charges for at least five new alleged fraudsters were announced earlier this month by Joe Thompson, first assistant U.S. District Attorney for the state of Minnesota, including allegedly fraudulent Medicaid claims involving a \u201chousing stabilization services program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thompson characterized the schemes, each of which have allegedly collected millions, as a \u201cfraud tourism\u201d scheme that is under investigation by state and federal agencies including the FBI, Homeland Security and the Justice Department. He said more charges will be announced in the future.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors have publicly stated that Minnesota may have lost up to $9 billion in misappropriated aid \u2014 a figure that has drawn national scrutiny as the investigation continues.<\/p>\n