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The scandal involves the systematic theft of federal COVID relief money intended to assist vulnerable populations such as children and the homeless. Prosecutors have already convicted 61 individuals, with 87 charged in connection to the crimes. Notably, the majority of those charged—79 out of 87—are of Somali descent, highlighting a significant community involvement in the scheme.
These stolen funds were meant to support initiatives like feeding children and providing housing for the indigent—programs that, in reality, saw little to no benefit for the intended recipients. Instead, the money was diverted into personal accounts and fraudulent enterprises, leaving countless Americans without the critical aid they were promised.