Federal agents executed multiple search warrants at Twin Cities health providers that bill Medicaid for autism services, with additional activity reported in Rochester. Officials offered minimal detail about the scope or results of the operation.
What officials confirmed
Federal officials described the actions as “court-authorized investigative activity” and declined to elaborate. “This is an active investigation, and no further details are available at this time,” FBI Minneapolis spokesman Matt Vogel said, according to MPR News.
Agencies participating included the FBI; the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; IRS criminal investigators; the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; and the Minnesota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, according to coverage compiled by The Western Journal.
Sites identified by local media
KMSP-TV reported that agents targeted two Twin Cities operations that bill Medicaid for autism services: Iska Inc. in St. Louis Park and Bright Horizon Therapy Center in Edina.
The Rochester Police Department said its officers assisted the FBI as federal agents executed search warrants “at multiple locations in Rochester” as part of fraud investigations, according to KARE-TV.
On-the-ground details and video
Footage and commentary posted on X by Eric Daugherty asserted that agents were outside an Iska Inc. location and that a front window was smashed. Daugherty also claimed the raids were happening ahead of Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit. These claims were not confirmed by federal officials in the reporting cited.
Money flows under scrutiny
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Iska received more than $16.7 million in Medicaid funds between 2018 and 2025. CBS News reported that Bright Horizon’s Medicaid billing rose from about $200,000 in 2020 to $7.5 million last year. These figures were reported by those outlets and do not by themselves indicate wrongdoing.
Background: alleged autism program abuse
City Journal published allegations of widespread fraud involving Minnesota’s Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program, claiming some parents received kickbacks while scammers billed for unnecessary services. The outlet also reported that “one in 16 Somali four-year-olds” in Minnesota had supposedly been diagnosed with autism—described as more than triple the state average. These are City Journal’s allegations and have not been resolved by the government in the updates cited here.
Recent federal cases and politics
In May, the Justice Department announced charges against 15 defendants in a separate case tied to more than $90 million in alleged fraud, according to Fox News.
Vice President J.D. Vance, who the article says leads the administration’s anti-fraud effort, is scheduled to appear in Minnesota on Friday. State House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth criticized Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar in an X post, calling the situation a “fraud crisis,” while former President Donald Trump claimed at a rally that major fraud investigations are underway in Minnesota. These are political statements and claims by those speakers.
Authorities have not publicly detailed what was seized or whether arrests were made in connection with Thursday’s search activity, based on the reporting cited.
