Could a mysterious break-in at a Minneapolis day care be the tip of a much larger iceberg? On Dec. 30, Nakomis Day Care Center, a Somali-run facility, reported an intrusion that has raised eyebrows amid a staggering fraud scandal gripping Minnesota’s human services programs.
This incident, in which the day care claimed theft of vital records while police initially found no reported loss, unfolds against the backdrop of a multibillion-dollar fraud investigation targeting similar facilities in Minnesota, as the New York Post reports.
The trouble began on Tuesday, when Nakomis Day Care Center alleged an intruder accessed the building. The suspect reportedly entered via the kitchen at the rear, damaged a wall, and breached the office space.
According to the day care, critical documents—enrollment data for children, employee files, and even checkbooks—were stolen. Yet, the Minneapolis Police Department’s preliminary report noted something peculiar: no loss was reported to officers at the time.
Later, the facility provided additional details to law enforcement. As of Wednesday, however, an updated police report remained unavailable, leaving questions about the true nature of this incident lingering.
Video footage shared by Nakomis allegedly captured the break-in, showing a hole in a wall near what appears to be a utility closet. Stacked cinder blocks were visible behind the drywall, adding a curious visual to the claim.
This event isn’t happening in a vacuum. Minnesota is reeling from a massive fraud scandal involving human services, with authorities uncovering at least $1 billion in misused funds for food, housing, and child care payments.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has issued a stark warning that the total fraud could climb as high as $9 billion. Day care centers, particularly those operated by Somali immigrants, are under intense scrutiny in this probe.
Dozens from the Somali community face charges for misappropriating state funds, with 92 arrests made, including 80 Somali immigrants. It’s a troubling statistic that fuels debates over accountability in public program management.
On the night of Dec. 30, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services dropped a bombshell. It froze all child care payments to Minnesota—$185 million for this year alone—pending proof of legitimate use.
Adding fuel to the fire, a viral video by YouTuber Nick Shirley investigated potential fraud at nearly a dozen Minnesota day cares. With over 110 million views, it has stirred public outrage, though Nakomis wasn’t featured.
“This is devastating news, and we don’t know why this is targeting our Somali community as one video made by a specific individual made this all happen,” said Nasrulah Mohamed, manager of Nakomis Day Care Center. One must wonder if such outrage deflects from addressing systemic oversight failures.
Separately, media visits to day cares in Shirley’s video, like Quality “Learing” Center, revealed alarming discrepancies. Despite the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families initially stating it had closed, the center appeared operational.
The department later corrected itself, admitting the facility first planned to shut down but then opted to stay open. Commissioner Tikki Brown offered no clarification as of Wednesday, raising doubts about state competence.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, the federal freeze on funds signals a hard line against waste and abuse. While some may cry politics, it’s hard to ignore the irony of a state struggling to track its own programs demanding unchecked millions.
