U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said his department is investigating a claim that money stolen from the state of Minnesota through fraud helped fund a Somalia-based terrorist group.

An unconfirmed report from a conservative think tank published earlier this month alleged that some of the hundreds of millions of dollars stolen from Minnesota in recent years ended up in the hands of the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab, which the U.S. State Department has designated as a terrorist organization.

Soon after that report was published on Nov. 19, President Donald Trump ended temporary legal protections for hundreds of Somali immigrants in Minnesota.

State Republicans then called on federal officials to investigate in letters to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Now there is a cabinet-level response.

“At my direction, (the U.S. Treasury Department) is investigating allegations that under the feckless mismanagement of the Biden Administration and Governor Tim Walz, hardworking Minnesotans’ tax dollars may have been diverted to the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab,” Bessent wrote in a post on X.

Bessent said his department would share findings as the investigation continues.

Fraud cases

Former Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson has said fraud in recent years could top $1 billion. Beyond the nearly 80 charges in the Feeding Our Future case, which involved federal dollars handled by the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s office also is prosecuting fraud cases in autism and housing stabilization service programs funded by Medicare and administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

It’s never been proven if any money stolen from Minnesota in recent fraud cases, such as the $250 million Feeding Our Future scheme where scammers claimed reimbursement for meals they never served to children during the pandemic, ended up funding terrorism. Though money has ended up overseas, according to authorities.

Citing unnamed sources and a former counterterrorism investigator, writers for City Journal, a publication of the Manhattan Institute, claim that some money sent back from Minnesota to Somalia through informal networks likely would have benefited Al-Shabaab, which controls large swaths of Somalia.

The report shows no definite link between hundreds of millions of dollars in fraud this decade in Minnesota and terrorist groups, though it asserts that al-Shabaab received cuts of money transferred from the U.S. to Somalia through the hawala system, an informal money transfer network used by the Somali diaspora.

Prior claim of fraud funding terror groups

It’s not the first time there have been allegations of a link between fraud in Minnesota and terrorism.

The same premise was at the center of a similar 2018 local news story that spurred action at the state Capitol and a nonpartisan state investigation that found no definitive connection.

KMSP-TV, or Fox 9, reported that money from day care fraud in Minnesota transferred to areas controlled by al-Shabaab in Somalia. An agency whistleblower claimed $100 million in stolen tax dollars had gone overseas.

A subsequent report by the nonpartisan Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor couldn’t substantiate claims that money went to terrorist groups. The 2019 report found fraud, though no evidence that it reached $100 million.

OLA did acknowledge, however, that money obtained through fraud sent overseas could end up going to terrorists.

Walz on federal scrutiny: ‘I welcome it’

Last week, the office of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said it had not heard anything from state or federal law enforcement regarding the allegations. The Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

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Speaking with reporters at the Capitol last Wednesday after presenting Minnesota’s Thanksgiving Turkey, Walz said he was open to federal scrutiny on fraud. Though he added he was worried the allegations were being used to paint the Somali community in a negative light.

“I welcome it. I think it’s the right thing to do. I don’t know if they’ll find the connection,” he said. “But what I will tell you is unhelpful is — do not paint an entire group of people with that same brush, demonizing them, putting them at risk when there is no proof.”

The roller coaster ride that Wild rookie forward Danila Yurov is taking took another dip on Monday. The Russian rookie, who has gone from much-hyped newcomer to healthy scratch to bottom six forward to top line center is now dealing with a health problem that will keep him out of the lineup on Tuesday when Minnesota visits Edmonton for the first time this season.

Yurov, who turns 22 this month, was injured last week in the Wild’s overtime win at Chicago, but had played last weekend versus Colorado and Buffalo. He did not skate in the team’s Monday morning practice, before they boarded a plane for the Oilers home rink.

Minnesota coach John Hynes did not offer any details on the nature of the injury, but classified Yurov as day-to-day. With normal top-line center Marco Rossi injured, Yurov had been playing in the middle on Minnesota’s top line between Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov. The rookie has posted three goals and four assists in his first 21 NHL games.

The Wild have extra forwards like Hunter Haight and Ben Jones, both of whom missed the Buffalo game, who could play versus Edmonton.

Veteran consistency sought

On Black Friday, Ryan Hartman made an emphatic return from a lower body that had sidelined him for the previous four games. Versus the high-flying Avalanche, Hartman made a highlight-reel set up play on Minnesota’s second goal, sending a wraparound pass to the slot in front of the Colorado net, where Kaprizov slammed it home.

One night later, in a shootout loss to Buffalo, Hartman was notably quieter, managing just one shot on goal in more than 17 minutes of ice time. Hynes admitted that the veteran’s hot and cold streaks have been an issue.

“I think he had a good first game there. I just want to see consistency,” Hynes said. “Be an impact every night with your ability to make plays offensively, strong in the faceoff circle, skating and moving his feet, have some edge to his game, lead with physicality and net-front play. I think when he does those things, he’s very effective.”

Hartman has four goals and four assists in 22 games this season.

Wallstedt just having fun

Wild rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt mostly brushed off the criticism he got for celebrating his shootout win versus the Avalanche, offering a reminder that hockey, and victory, are supposed to be enjoyed.

Wallstedt celebrated with his signature archer-style move following stopping Colorado stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar in the shootout that gave the Wild a 4-3 win on the day after Thanksgiving. It was a “little much” in the social media words of Avalanche radio man Conor McGahey, who criticized Wallstedt for celebrating “like he’s won the Stanley Cup.”

Not really wanting to get into a war of words with a Central Division rival, Wallstedt nonetheless noted that it was all in good fun.

“I thought that was ridiculous. Hockey’s supposed to be fun. I think everyone’s supposed to enjoy it,” said Wallstedt, who improved to 7-0-2 with the win over Colorado.

Wallstedt noted the brutal start to the season he had while playing for the Iowa Wild a year ago, and said that if people like McGahey understood all he had been through to get to this point, they might understand his celebration a little better.

“And maybe if I was wearing a purple sweater instead of a Wild sweater, I think he’d enjoy it more,” Wallstedt said. “It was weird. We’re having fun. We (celebrated) in front of our own fans. They liked it. Hockey can be boring too, but I’d rather make it fun.”

Hynes said Wallstedt will get the start versus the Oilers on Tuesday.

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Former Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jonathan Weinhagen admitted in federal court Monday to defrauding the organization of more than $213,000 through a multi-year scheme that included concocting a phony consulting company, writing a sham obituary and stealing chamber donations for a Crime Stoppers reward fund.

Weinhagen, who had an earlier stint with the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court in St. Paul to one count of mail fraud in connection with receiving three $10,000 donations to Crime Stoppers following the unsolved shootings of three children in Minneapolis in 2021.

Jonathan Weinhagen (Courtesy photo)

Weinhangen, a 42-year-old married father of four from Shoreview, was indicted in late October for running the fraud scheme between December 2019 and June 2024 — when he abruptly left the Minneapolis chamber — by setting up bogus contracts with the made-up company. He deposited money from the contracts into a bank account he opened under the company’s name and used it for his personal expenses.

Four other charges will be dismissed at sentencing as part of a plea agreement: two counts of wire fraud and one count each of attempted bank fraud and providing a false statement on a loan application.

Weinhagen will remain free ahead of his sentencing on an unsecured bond he posted Oct. 23. He faces between 27 and 33 months in prison at sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.

‘James Sullivan’

Weinhagen admitted Monday during questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Murphy that he invented a company called Synergy Partners along with a fictional owner, James Sullivan, which he used to enter into three fraudulent contracts with the chamber totaling $117,500.

He admitted to opening a line of credit in the chamber’s name, borrowing more than $125,000 and transferring it to the phony company.

“To cover up his embezzlement,” the indictment read, “Weinhagen later diverted donations from Chamber of Commerce business members to repay the money he fraudulently obtained through the (chamber) line of credit.” Weinhagen admitted as much under questioning by Murphy.

The chamber discovered the credit line and staff requested information about the payments, according to the indictment. Weinhagen then sent fake emails to make it appear the fictional company had gone out of business and published an obituary on Legacy.com in April 2024, claiming the 62-year-old owner from St. Paul had died of pancreatic cancer.

“James Sullivan” was a “family man who balanced a successful consulting career,” the now-deleted obituary read. “Jim was charismatic, hardworking, and always put others first.”

Weinhagen admitted in court to spending $15,701 on a chamber credit card for a first-class airfare and a two-bedroom oceanfront room in Honolulu for him and family, and creating fake documents to make it appear as though the trip was all for legitimate chamber business.

Weinhagen admitted he asked Crime Stoppers to return the $30,000 in May 2022 and asked that the refund be sent to his home, saying it was the chamber’s new address.

“And upon receiving that check, you stole the money for your own personal expenses. Is that correct?” Murphy asked Weinhagen. “Yes,” he said.

Finally, Weinhagen admitted that he tried to defraud SoFi Bank of $54,000 through a bank loan after leaving the chamber. He claimed he worked for a Minnesota-based restaurant holding company and providing a phony bank stub showing a $425,000 annual salary. The bank denied the loan.

He was a school board member

In a span of about seven years, Weinhagen went from working at his family’s now-shuttered fourth generation business on St. Paul’s West Side, Weinhagen Tire Co., to hobnobbing with business leaders and politicians on both sides of the river.

Weinhagen, who holds degrees from Bethel University and the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, joined the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce in 2010. He spent the next six and a half years at the chamber, including the last two as vice president, then left to become president and CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce.

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Weinhagen resigned from the Minneapolis chamber following an internal investigation that projected a $500,000 deficit in 2024. He received nearly $278,000 in salary and other compensation in 2023, according to chamber tax records.

Weinhagen was also a member of the Mounds View school board for over 11 years. He resigned on Oct. 24, two days after the federal indictment was unsealed.

The school district found no evidence of impropriety in its routine audits, spokesman Colin Sokolowski said Monday. But the school board has asked the district’s auditing firm “to review our finances for the duration of Weinhagen’s board service,” Sokolowski said, adding the review is ongoing.

More than 1,300 tickets were issued and 351 cars were towed from designated “night plow” routes on the first night of St. Paul’s 96-hour snow emergency, which began at 9 p.m. Sunday.

That’s an average to slightly above-average amount of ticketing and towing for a St. Paul snow emergency, but the first winter storm of the season is always a learning experience — or perhaps a refresher course — for many residents. On top of that, some of the city’s alert systems kicked in a few hours later than usual.

St. Paul Public Works informs residents that a snow emergency is in effect through a variety of platforms, from social media blasts on sites such as X, previously known as Twitter, to emails and text alerts in multiple languages, an online parking map, a recorded line, local news media and, new in recent months, outgoing voice messages. Not all of those systems rolled out without a kink on Sunday.

A problem with a third-party vendor slowed text alerts for hours, sending out 66,000 text messages on a staggered basis.

“Some went out right away, some trickled out,” said Lisa Hiebert, a spokesperson for St. Paul Public Works.

The snow emergency was declared at about 12:30 p.m. and some 64,000 emails launched soon after, but by 2 p.m. only about half of the text alerts had been distributed. Still, “all the text messages went out by 6 p.m.,” Hiebert said, giving recipients several hours to move their cars.

Another issue — possibly but not necessarily tied to the cyber-security incident that crippled city systems for weeks this summer — left Public Works scrambling to change the message on a recorded line — 651-266-PLOW — that residents can call for updated snow emergency information. That message was not changed until 6 p.m., despite the best efforts of communications staff, Hiebert said.

“We had a little glitch with the voicemail message and being able to access that,” she said.

New and existing platforms

The city added a new phone service about a year ago that sends recorded snow emergency messages to 150,000 phone numbers culled from public records. The Everbridge Resident Connect service sends the voice recordings to landlines and mobile numbers using “open sources” registered in St. Paul, Hiebert said. Everbridge is distinct from the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) used by FEMA.

“It’s just one of many, many ways people can get the status update,” Hiebert said. “Signing up for email and text alerts is the best, but residents can also check out the snow emergency parking map, check our socials.” More information is online at StPaul.gov/snow.

Snow emergencies last 96 hours. After clearing major arterial streets and other designated night plow routes on Sunday night, city snow plows concentrated on residential streets during daytime hours on Monday. Given the amount of ice build-up, Hiebert said the city will salt residential streets — which is not usually the case — and return to trouble spots through Thursday evening, including areas that were inaccessible because of cars that had not been moved.

In the latter stages of a snow emergency, parking is allowed only in areas that have been plowed to the curb. Vehicles parked in unplowed areas may be subject to ticketing and towing. “It’s pretty obvious with windrows when cars haven’t moved,” Hiebert said.

Residents concerned about an abandoned vehicle blocking snowplow access can call Ramsey County’s non-emergency dispatch number — 651-291-1111 — or fill out an online form at StPaul.gov/SnowTicketing.

Minneapolis also declared a snow emergency on Sunday, after a winter storm that began Friday finished dropping about 5 inches of snow throughout the Twin Cities.

Hiebert’s advice to new residents?

“If you’re going out of town and you park on the street, make sure you always leave your keys with someone trusted, because we do ticket and tow,” she said.

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