MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A recent investigation by citizen journalist Nick Shirley has ignited outrage across the nation after revealing shocking practices at a single commercial building in Minnesota. This location houses 22 state-licensed healthcare businesses, all allegedly connected to Somali operators. As Shirley discovered, none of these businesses appeared to be active during regular business hours.
The viral video shows Shirley approaching the building, knocking on its locked doors, and attempting to speak with individuals outside. His efforts were met with silence, and several people were seen fleeing. The clip quickly gained traction online, catching the attention of former President Donald Trump, who echoed Shirley’s findings on his Truth Social account, stating, “The Somalis act very suspicious and RUN from Nick’s questions.”
This situation has emerged amid a larger scandal focused on taxpayer-funded services in Minnesota, including childcare, healthcare, and medical transportation. Investigative efforts have revealed a network of fraudulent businesses, primarily run by Somali immigrants, that have siphoned millions from federal programs while offering no genuine services. Many of these operations share office spaces or have common ownership.
In the footage, Shirley emphasizes, “All 22 of these businesses are registered to receive state or federal healthcare funding. We searched their addresses, and every single one is licensed and active. But as you can see—no operations, no staff, and no patients. Midday on a Thursday.” This stark contrast raises serious questions regarding oversight and accountability.
Shirley’s investigation is part of a broader effort to uncover welfare fund misuse. Over the past three months, he and his team have visited more than 50 similar locations in the Twin Cities. Many of these so-called “autism therapy centers” or “home health care agencies” feature blacked-out windows, locked doors, or poor signage. One “daycare” was licensed for 80 children yet reportedly collected nearly $1.9 million in public funds without serving a single child, while another provider amassed $6.67 million over two years, despite showing evidence of being unable to offer any real services.
Governor Tim Walz’s office acknowledged these issues earlier this month, stating that the governor is committed to cracking down on fraud and has requested greater authority from the state legislature to combat these problems. Following the exposure, one facility is now closed while investigations are ongoing by the Minnesota Department of Human Services and federal authorities.
FBI Director Kash Patel spoke about the broader implications of such fraud last week, noting, “The FBI dismantled a $250 million fraud scheme that stole federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during COVID. These types of welfare abuse cases are priority targets. And truthfully, this is just the tip of the iceberg.” The total estimated fraud within Minnesota’s healthcare and childcare programs stands at an alarming $9 billion over the last seven years. Techniques include falsified service logs, shell companies, and inadequate oversight from government agencies.
Similar fraud patterns have been reported in other states. In Ohio, attorney Mehek Cooke described cases involving fake home healthcare claims, including one provider receiving $90,000 annually for caring for an elder who was actually living alone.
Shirley’s work has garnered significant attention, with praise coming from various political leaders and media figures alike. Sen. J.D. Vance remarked, “This dude has done far more useful journalism than any of the winners of the 2024 Pulitzer prizes.” Commentator Megyn Kelly added, “Too busy supporting radical agendas to do what a 23-year-old took the time to do—break what might be the biggest fraud story in the country.”
Through his Dangerous Truth Foundation, Shirley has accumulated over 113 million views on his content, aiming to promote accountability rather than any ideological agenda. “We’re just asking the questions no one else will ask,” Shirley stated. “Where is the money going? Why are these places empty? Why can’t we, the public, get a straight answer?”
The video shared by Trump has fueled calls for lawmakers to impose stricter licensing and real-time audits, seeking closer scrutiny of programs like Medicaid, CCS, and Housing Stabilization Services reimbursements. While some officials, including Gov. Walz, claim progress—such as hiring outside auditors and appointing a new integrity director—critics argue that these measures come too late.
The indifference of legacy media has been another troubling aspect of this saga. Not a single major newsroom has dispatched teams to these empty businesses to verify the extensive paper trail fueling these financial transactions. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman noted, “Blatant outright fraud, discoverable in minutes, and ignored for years. This could only occur with cooperation from officials or willful blindness.”
As of now, none of the 22 businesses located in the building exposed by Shirley have responded to the findings. Minnesota’s Department of Human Services has confirmed ongoing investigations but has not disclosed detailed information on those involved.
“They’ve been given license after license, check after check. But who’s stopping to see whether a single child’s been served or a real patient helped?” Shirley questioned in a follow-up segment. For taxpayers who bear the brunt of these financial abuses and the vulnerable citizens deprived of genuine care, this silence speaks volumes.
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