WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Vice President JD Vance on Thursday vowed to intensify the Trump administration’s crackdown on Medicaid fraud and government welfare abuse after federal prosecutors charged 15 people in Minnesota in connection with schemes involving nearly $90 million in taxpayer funds.
The announcement came as the Justice Department unveiled what officials described as two of the largest Medicaid fraud cases in Minnesota history and the largest autism-services fraud scheme ever charged by the federal government. Don’t defraud the American taxpayer,” Vance said in a video message released by the administration. “Don’t get rich by trying to steal from them, or we are going to come after you until justice is served.
Federal authorities said the defendants allegedly used Medicaid and social-service programs to steal millions of dollars intended for vulnerable Americans, including children with autism and disabled patients. Vance, who leads the administration’s anti-fraud task force, said investigators will continue pursuing individuals and organizations accused of abusing government welfare programs.
“Our message is simple: if you’re committing fraud, we will find you, and we won’t rest until justice is served,” Vance said.
The Justice Department said the Minnesota prosecutions mark one of the largest coordinated fraud crackdowns in recent years. Prosecutors alleged that several defendants billed Medicaid for services that were never provided or exaggerated care hours to increase reimbursements. Officials said one case involved fraudulent claims tied to autism services. Federal investigators called it the largest autism-services fraud scheme ever charged by the U.S. government.
The Trump administration has made government spending oversight a major priority. Vance said welfare fraud hurts both taxpayers and vulnerable citizens who depend on public assistance programs. “With this action, we’re bringing justice to some of America’s most vulnerable citizens and justice to the American taxpayer,” he said.
The administration has repeatedly warned states that they could face increased scrutiny if they fail to detect fraud in Medicaid and other welfare programs. Vance also highlighted a case involving a disabled man whose caregiver allegedly billed Medicaid for around-the-clock care while failing to provide any real assistance. Authorities later found the man dead.
“To get rich off taxpayers, even at the cost of others’ lives, is sickening,” Vance said.
Federal investigators said the case reflects broader concerns about oversight failures in state-administered Medicaid systems.
The latest prosecutions come as Minnesota continues dealing with several major fraud scandals that have attracted national attention.
Independent journalist Nick Shirley recently investigated organizations that received taxpayer funds through healthcare and social-service programs. His reporting questioned whether some businesses performed legitimate services despite receiving large government reimbursements. The issue has also raised concerns in Ohio, where reports showed the state spent roughly $1 billion on home healthcare services in 2024. The reimbursements included payments for household chores and homemaking services performed by relatives.
Investigators found that seven buildings in Columbus allegedly housed 288 home healthcare companies that collectively billed taxpayers more than $250 million. The findings fueled criticism from conservatives who argue that weak oversight allows fraud to spread across Medicaid-funded programs.
Minnesota authorities are also still handling fallout from the massive Feeding Our Future fraud case. On Thursday, Aimee Bock received a nearly 42-year prison sentence for her role in a $250 million fraud scheme tied to pandemic-relief meal programs for children.
Federal prosecutors said Feeding Our Future falsely claimed to provide meals to thousands of children during the COVID-19 pandemic while organizers and associates diverted taxpayer money for personal gain. Authorities have described the case as one of the largest pandemic-fraud schemes in U.S. history.
