Federal Fraud Defense Attorneys in Minneapolis

Defending Clients Accused in High-Profile Minnesota Fraud Investigations

Federal prosecutors have devoted significant resources to investigating alleged fraud involving government-funded programs in Minnesota. These cases often attract public attention and aggressive prosecution strategies, even before formal charges are announced.

These cases are rarely straightforward. They often involve complicated funding structures, evolving regulations, and compliance standards that are not always clearly defined. Our role is to scrutinize the government’s narrative, challenge assumptions, and protect our clients from overreach.

High-Profile Minnesota Fraud Investigations: What Federal Authorities Are Targeting

Federal and state authorities in Minnesota have spent the last several years uncovering what prosecutors describe as interconnected fraud schemes involving government-funded nutrition, healthcare, and social services programs. These investigations are sweeping in scope, involve complex regulatory frameworks, and often rely on aggressive interpretations of billing, documentation, and compliance rules.

Understanding the structure and evolution of these cases is critical for anyone facing a fraud investigation tied to public funds.

Feeding Our Future: Child Nutrition Program Investigation

Feeding Our Future was a Minnesota nonprofit founded in 2016 that rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic by claiming to provide meals to children affected by school closures. At its peak, the organization sponsored nearly 200 meal distribution sites across the state.

Federal prosecutors later alleged that Feeding Our Future oversaw what became the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme in U.S. history, with losses totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. According to the government, many sponsored sites submitted inflated or entirely fabricated meal counts while serving few or no meals. Attorney General Merrick Garland publicly described the case as unprecedented in scale.

Although the Minnesota Department of Education repeatedly attempted to suspend funding based on irregularities, payments continued until FBI raids and federal indictments in 2022. 

As of late 2025:

• 78 individuals have been federally indicted
• More than 50 defendants pleaded guilty
• Seven defendants, including Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock, were convicted at trial
• Additional cases remain pending

The investigation drew national political attention and sparked broader scrutiny of nonprofit sponsorship models, emergency pandemic programs, and oversight failures within federal nutrition initiatives.

Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) Medicaid Fraud Investigation

Another major, ongoing investigation centers on Minnesota’s Medicaid-funded Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program, which was designed to help vulnerable individuals secure and maintain stable housing.

Federal authorities allege that the program was exploited by networks of sham companies created solely to submit fraudulent Medicaid claims. Investigators estimate potential losses exceeding $100 million, with more than 100 businesses temporarily suspended during the probe.

According to charging documents, alleged misconduct includes:

• Billing for housing services was never provided
• Submitting claims supported by forged signatures and fake documentation
• Inflating service hours and reimbursement amounts
• Using Medicaid funds for personal luxury purchases and overseas real estate

High-profile indictments include owners of companies such as Leo Human Services and Liberty Plus, whose principals pleaded guilty to multi-million-dollar fraud schemes. The scandal led to the termination of a senior state assistant commissioner, and federal officials have indicated that additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues.

Autism Services and EIDBI Program Fraud Prosecutions

Federal scrutiny has also expanded into Minnesota’s Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program, which provides Medicaid-funded autism services for children under 21.

One of the most prominent cases involves Asha Farhan Hassan, who was charged with wire fraud for her role in a $14 million EIDBI autism services scheme, in addition to participating in the Feeding Our Future fraud. 

Prosecutors allege that Hassan and others:

• Operated therapy centers staffed by unqualified personnel
• Submitted inflated and fabricated Medicaid claims
• Paid illegal kickbacks to parents to drive enrollment
• Billed for maximum authorized services regardless of whether treatment occurred
• Used forged provider approvals and fraudulent signatures

The government further alleges that proceeds from the scheme were sent abroad and used to purchase real estate in Kenya. Federal prosecutors have emphasized that the EIDBI case is part of a broader pattern of fraud affecting multiple Minnesota health care programs, not an isolated incident.