By Gloria Ogbonna
Minnesota state officials under Democratic Governor Tim Walz continued to send millions of dollars in welfare funding to a Somali-focused charity even after its chairman had been arrested and charged in a major fraud case, according to multiple reports that are now drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers and taxpayers.
Records reviewed by local media show that Ali Elmi, the board chairman of Ka Joog—a nonprofit organization that claims to serve Somali children and youth—was arrested and formally charged in the fall of 2023 in connection with a $9 million fraud scheme.
Despite Elmi’s arrest and the seriousness of the allegations, state officials reportedly continued approving and distributing large welfare payments to the organization without pausing the funding or launching an immediate review.
KTSP-TV reported that after Elmi was charged, Ka Joog continued to receive state payments totaling roughly $600,000. These funds were sent without any apparent investigation into whether the organization itself was implicated in wrongdoing or whether taxpayer dollars were at risk.
Authorities allege that Elmi played a role in stealing approximately $9 million from Minnesota’s Personal Care Assistance (PCA) program, a welfare initiative overseen by the state Department of Human Services (DHS) that is intended to support vulnerable residents who need in-home care services.
Prosecutors say the fraud involved abuse of the program’s funding mechanisms, raising broader concerns about oversight within DHS.
Republican State Representative Isaac Schultz strongly criticized the continued funding, accusing the Department of Human Services of failing in its basic duty to safeguard public money.
“The left hand isn’t talking to the right hand,” Schultz said in an interview with KTSP. “State agencies, elected officials, and their offices are failing to communicate within state government to protect the public’s dollars.”
Schultz and other critics argue that the state appears to have made little to no effort to determine whether Ka Joog’s charitable activities are legitimate, even as its chairman faces serious criminal charges.
Minnesota NGO continued to get hundreds of thousands in state grants after its board chair was charged in a massive fraud case
The founders of the nonprofit are from Somalia, they got caught stealing $9 million taxpayer dollars, and Democrats KEPT SENDING MONEY
“The… pic.twitter.com/MjyQtzc1uW
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) December 19, 2025
According to a Channel 5 investigation, Ka Joog remains listed as an active charity in good standing with the state, and no formal investigation into the organization itself has been initiated.
However, that appearance of legitimacy masks a troubling record. Reports show that Ka Joog has accumulated numerous complaints related to missing paperwork, poor financial transparency, and a lack of accountability.
KTSP found that the organization is not even properly registered as an official charity under state requirements because it failed to submit required financial filings. Despite this, more than $2.7 million in Minnesota state funding has reportedly flowed into Ka Joog’s accounts.
“Minnesotans are incredibly frustrated by this,” Rep. Schultz said. “It is incredibly concerning, especially when it appears like no one is being held accountable.”
The issue appears to extend well beyond a single organization. In a separate investigation, KTSP reported that as much as $20 million in Minnesota welfare funding has been distributed to multiple organizations that have failed to meet basic state requirements for charitable registration and financial disclosure.
Many of these groups have not registered with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, as required by law, yet they continue to receive millions of dollars from state agencies.
The findings have intensified calls for increased oversight, better coordination among state agencies, and stronger safeguards to ensure welfare funds are not misused.
Lawmakers pushing for reform argue that without stricter enforcement and accountability, taxpayer dollars remain vulnerable to fraud and mismanagement.
Source Breitbart
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