Federal Charges Announced Against 15 in Minnesota for Defrauding Social Service Programs
Federal authorities have charged 15 individuals in Minnesota with defrauding government social service programs. This announcement follows a significant investigation into fraudulent activities involving the theft of over $90 million in taxpayer money. The charges include allegations of falsely diagnosing children with autism to receive government funds, marking what officials describe as the largest autism fraud scheme ever charged by the Department of Justice. The investigation is part of a broader effort to combat fraud in Minnesota, which has seen significant misuse of federal funds, particularly during the pandemic. Aimee Bock, previously convicted for her role in a related fraud scheme, was sentenced to nearly 42 years in prison. The fraud involved exploiting lax rules intended to prevent economic collapse during the pandemic, resulting in the theft of over $250 million, with only $50 million recovered. 
