Stearns County Sheriff to Brief Board on Fraud Unit, $2M Saved by Stopping Suspect Welfare Disbursements

(KNSI) – The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office will present an overview of its fraud investigation unit to the county board next month, offering the public its first detailed look at how the department is combating welfare fraud amid a statewide crisis.

The presentation, scheduled for March 24th, comes as Minnesota grapples with an estimated $9 billion in welfare fraud, much of it stemming from the massive Feeding Our Future scandal that’s made national headlines. Stearns County residents interested in learning more about the unit’s operations, active cases, and results are encouraged to attend or watch the presentation.

Since establishing a dedicated fraud investigator around three years ago, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says it’s recovered more than $2 million by stopping fraudulent benefit disbursements. According to Sheriff Steve Soyka, the fraud investigation unit currently manages about 12 active cases, all described as localized in nature, with additional cases pending review. Officials note they cannot comment on specifics of ongoing investigations.

The presentation is expected to detail how Stearns County is investigating multiple assistance programs, including SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) covering cash and food assistance, Medical Assistance, Child Care Assistance Program, General Assistance, Minnesota Supplemental Aid, various housing programs, emergency assistance and refugee cash programs, and the Diversionary Work Program, which provides short-term support for low-income families.

Unlike the large organized fraud schemes that have made headlines across Minnesota, Stearns County investigators have not uncovered operations similar to those being prosecuted at the state level.
Prior to establishing the in-house fraud investigator position, the county contracted out for that type of investigative work.

The Sheriff’s Office says it works closely with the county’s human services department, which refers suspected fraud cases for investigation.

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