Operation Kids Count, began a year-and-a-half ago when the Minnesota Department of Human Services' Office of Inspector General noticed unusually high billings from Minnesota Child Care Services.
(Photo: Bill Middeke, KARE 11)
MINNEAPOLIS - Four people have been arrested and three day care centers have been charged in an elaborate billing scheme that could surpass $1 million.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Kids Count, began a year-and-a-half ago when the Minnesota Department of Human Services' Office of Inspector General noticed unusually high billings from Minnesota Child Care Services, 2500 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis, to the Child Care Assistance Program.
"Each of the child care facilities charged have been involved in a common theme of billing the government for child care services and then not providing them. These centers do provide legitimate support and services, but they also bill the government anywhere from 15-30 percent for kids who weren't there," said Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman. "If there were 200 kids in the center, they would bill the government for 300."
The Child Care Assistance Program is designed to provide low-income families with subsidies so that their child care will be free or very low cost so the parents can work. The assistance program makes up the difference to the child care centers. Funding for the program comes from federal, state and county taxes.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators obtained warrants and installed hidden cameras that could view the entrances to the child care centers. Agents conducted numerous hours of surveillance and then watched the video and counted the number of children entering it. After checking the billings to the state for the same time period, they found that the centers claimed many more children were attending the child care centers than were actually present.
"In terms of dollars, this is the largest criminal fraud investigation the BCA has worked in its partnership with DHS," said Wade Setter, Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. "This kind of criminal activity victimizes every Minnesota taxpayer, but particularly those who need affordable child care. Our work to identify and investigate those who would commit fraud of this nature will continue."
The money was used for the benefit of the company and its owners, according to the complaint.
The three centers are Minnesota Child Care Service, Inc.; Children's Choice Center, Inc., 2700 Summer St. NE and Ummah Child Care Services, Inc., 2505 Fifth Ave. S, all in Minneapolis. A fourth center was searched, but no charges were filed against it Tuesday.
Per KARE 11 policy, the four people arrested, along with the fourth day care center searched, will not be named until formally charged. Freeman said those charges could be coming soon.
First appearances for the three companies is set for Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m.
http://www.kare11.com/story/news/crime/ ... /73061884/
U cannot believe how these Somalis are scheming walaahi. They go to the Somali malls-- or Star bucks cafee shops--sit and listen to each other on the latest scheme. Then they copy each other and start making money! 
In American, u can make money fast--milking the government not to mention fake tax credits. They all drive 2015 cars.