A recent video by conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley is intensifying scrutiny of what investigators are calling one of the largest alleged social services fraud schemes in Minnesota history. This investigation suggests that fraud may involve as much as $9 billion in stolen taxpayer funds, including claims from facilities that allegedly billed the state for nonexistent children.
Released on Wednesday, Shirley’s latest video turns its focus to non-emergency medical transportation services. He claims that transportation companies have billed the state millions for rides that never took place. Shirley visited addresses associated with several transportation providers listed in state records, discovering locations that bore no connection to medical transport services. Some of these included liquor stores and private residences.
In the video, a Minnesota resident named David suggested, “What I think might be the heart of the beast here is this transportation fraud.” Shirley’s investigation captures exchanges with individuals at these addresses. When asked about the transportation companies, many stated they had never heard of them, prompting allegations of widespread misuse of public funds.
These claims arise as broader investigations into Minnesota’s social services system continue, which has already faced scrutiny for fraud linked to food assistance programs and childcare providers. State and federal authorities have acknowledged significant oversight failures in recent years, although not all claims from Shirley’s video have been independently verified.
A striking aspect of the alleged fraud involves businesses owned by individuals from the Somali community. According to figures presented in the video, Somali entrepreneurs reportedly own as much as 90 percent of non-emergency medical transportation companies in the state. This focus has sparked tension, with some community members accusing Shirley of targeting a specific demographic. He asserts that his primary concern is the pursuit of alleged fraud, not the community itself.
The Somali community wields considerable political influence in Minnesota, leading to questions about whether political factors contributed to delays in oversight or enforcement. Shirley’s video also highlights connections between individuals implicated in past fraud cases and prominent state and local political figures, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Governor Tim Walz.
The situation has escalated alongside political ramifications for Governor Walz, who recently announced he would not seek re-election. He cited his inability to fully commit to another campaign, a decision critics have linked to mounting pressure over the management of social services fraud in the state. Walz has not explicitly connected his choice to the allegations raised in Shirley’s investigations.
Looking ahead, Shirley is scheduled to testify before Congress next week regarding his findings and the alleged extent of fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs. His testimony may draw renewed federal attention to this complex case.
As the investigation unfolds, the implications of these allegations continue to resonate across Minnesota, raising significant questions about accountability and the integrity of social service systems designed to support those in need.
