ICYMI: Secretary Bessent, Trump Administration Officials Announce New Fraud Prevention Measures in Minnesota

ST. CLOUD, Minn.—Today, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent traveled to St. Cloud, Minnesota, along with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew Ferguson, and Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division Colin McDonald, to announce several initiatives to combat the rampant fraud that has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars in Minnesota.

Today’s announcements underscore the Trump Administration’s coordinated efforts to protect taxpayer dollars, prevent fraud, and hold perpetrators accountable. Yesterday, FBI Minneapolis executed numerous search warrants related to ongoing fraud investigations in a combined 26-count indictment, and arrested four alleged Medicaid fraudsters who intended to defraud victims of over $41 million with actual losses amounting to $21.65 million. This was the outcome of an investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations.

To further strengthen fraud prevention and detection, Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today issued an alert on risks involving cross-border payments through U.S.-based money services businesses after financial institutions reported more than $8 billion in potentially suspicious wire payments from 2021 to 2025. FinCEN also issued a notice to help financial institutions detect and report the exploitation of charities and nonprofits for terrorist financing, fraud, and other illicit activity.

“President Trump has made clear that the war on fraud is not the work of one department, but a mandate we must carry across the Administration,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “The U.S. Treasury is deploying every tool to bring an end to this egregious, unchecked fraud and hold perpetrators to account. And under this President’s leadership, wherever the money leads, the full weight of the federal government will follow.” Read Secretary Bessent’s op-ed in the Minnesota Star-Tribune.

“Our nation’s War on Fraud began in the Medicaid program right here in Minnesota. Since then, we’ve embarked on an unprecedented quest to crush corruption here and nationwide,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “No society, no American, no patient should ever be the victim of the crimes we’ve seen since then. Fraudsters aren’t just stealing taxpayer dollars. they are threatening the quality, affordability, and integrity of the healthcare millions of Americans rely on.”

“We’re identifying criminal funding streams, locating their center of gravity, and dismantling their networks across the country. That includes crushing the criminal fraud complex that has plagued America for so long,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI is following the money, and if you steal from the government or American taxpayers, justice will find you."

“States such as Minnesota got a free pass for four full years. During this time, criminals were allowed to steal money from hardworking Americans and live a life of luxury while everyone else suffered,” said FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson. “President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Secretary Bessent had a very clear message: Enough is enough. The era of robbing American citizens is over. We are putting Americans first again.”

“Minnesota is the epicenter for fraud in America,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter for the Justice Department. “The Trump administration’s crackdown is working, and the results speak for themselves. Through the Minnesota Fraud Task Force we are systematically dismantling schemes preying on Americans. Backed by more than a thousand subpoenas and 40 warrants, the message is simple: No one stealing from taxpayer-funded programs is safe.”

“The alarming concentration of fraud targeting taxpayer-funded programs in Minnesota demands a coordinated and sustained response,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “We are working with our law enforcement partners to uncover alleged fraud, protect public funds, and hold offenders accountable. We will continue these efforts until these schemes are dismantled and taxpayer dollars are protected from abuse in Minnesota.”

The full press conference is available to watch here.

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