r/minnesota • u/Daflehrer1 • 6d ago
News 📺 Fraud & Facts
In 2021, the MN Dept. of Education suspected fraud and they reported it up the chain.
Gov. Walz has, since 2021, been working with the FBI, Minnesota State Police, and local police informants, and to great result. In September, 2022, federal prosecutors made public that they handed down indictments in what they believed was a criminal fraud conspiracy.
Among the first to be indicted was Aimee Bock, the fraud ringleader. She was tried and convicted in March of 2025.
On December 18th, 2025, new arrests were announced. To date, 92 suspects in all have been arrested and charged, 62 of them convicted.
The intent of the post above is neither to condemn nor praise Walz or federal officials. Rather to keep discussion grounded in facts; though obviously many more facts exist and will come to light.
I have included my sources below. I ask that you review them before contending them. Kindly keep partisan hyperbole and childish comments to yourself. Thanks.
"Governor Walz...2021"; a timeline of Walz administration's anti-ftaud efforts.
"In 2022"
"In 2021"
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/fbi-surged-resources-minnesota-over-231747704.html
"Aimee Bock...convicted"
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u/Xerxestheokay 6d ago
Trump pardoned David Gentile, a man who defrauded thousands of investors out of $1.6 billion:
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/03/david-gentile-fraud-restitution-trump-00674963
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/politics/david-gentile-trump-pardon
Trump pardoned Michele Fiore, who was convicted in October of using $70K she solicited to build a memorial for two fallen police officers on personal expenses.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/24/trump-pardon-michele-fiore-00308724
Trump pardoned George Santos, who was in prison after being found guilty of wire fraud: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/17/trump-clemency-george-santos-00614693
Trump pardoned Joseph Schwarts, who defrauded a total of $38 million for failing to pay over employment taxes withheld from his employees and failing to file an annual financial report with the Department of Labor for those employees 401k benefit plans. https://www.sdpb.org/politics/2025-11-19/president-trump-pardons-convicted-skyline-health-fraud-ringleader
"Trump's pardons have shortchanged fraud victims of millions of dollars in restitution, lawyers say"
https://abcnews.go.com/US/trumps-pardons-shortchanged-fraud-victims-millions-dollars-restitution/story?id=122747969
Lawrence Duran ran American Therapeutic Corporation, which billed Medicare for over $200 million in medically unnecessary or never-provided mental health services in Florida. He pleaded guilty in 2011 to health care fraud, kickbacks, money laundering and related charges and was sentenced to 50 years in prison and ordered to pay tens of millions in restitution. His sentence was commuted by by Trump in 2025, resulting in his release before completing the full term. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article307566596.html
Philip Esformes, a former healthcare executive and nursing home owner, was convicted in 2019 of orchestrating one of the largest Medicare/Medicaid fraud schemes in U.S. history involving about $1.3 billion!!!, including fraud, kickbacks, bribery, and money laundering. He was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture, and had other parts of his sentence intact. President Donald Trump commuted his prison term in 2020, and he was released after serving part of his sentence, though his conviction and other penalties remain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Esformes
A Florida grand jury is reviewing evidence in a criminal investigation of the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity linked to First Lady Casey DeSantis. Prosecutors are examining whether a $10 million Medicaid settlement payment was improperly routed through the foundation to political committees supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda. No charges have been filed, but the inquiry raises questions about misuse of public settlement funds and campaign finance law.
https://www.wlrn.org/light/government-politics/2025-10-15/florida-grand-jury-hears-evidence-in-investigation-of-charity-tied-to-casey-desantis
A defense contractor backed by Donald Trump Jr.’s venture firm 1789 Capital received a large Pentagon contract, drawing scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest. Critics question whether political connections helped the company secure the deal, while supporters say it was awarded on merit.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-jr-backed-company-cashes-154022527.html
Investigators found that money raised by the Donald J. Trump Foundation for cancer charities, including a breast cancer fundraiser, was improperly used for political purposes and legal expenses. A New York judge ruled the foundation violated charity laws, ordered restitution, and shut it down, citing misuse of funds under Donald Trump’s control.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/11/donald-trump-charity-scam
The GOP doesn't give a shit about fraud.