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A multi-million-dollar scandal that rocked Minnesota is now raising alarms in Ohio, with potential ties extending to Cincinnati and even involving high-ranking Somali diplomats.
The possibility of Somali fraud occurring in Ohio brings national attention to similar setups in different states.
As federal authorities freeze childcare funding in Minnesota amid convictions tied to more than $250 million in alleged fraud, similar concerns, including Somali fraud in Ohio, are emerging in Columbus—and closer to home. Public records, whistleblower reports, and demands from state lawmakers point to patterns of questionable billing in refugee, childcare, and home healthcare programs serving Ohio’s large Somali community.
Ohio has the second-largest Somali population in the United States, and state spending on refugee services has risen sharply in recent years. Much of that money flows through nonprofits and related entities that provide childcare reimbursements, nutrition programs, and Medicaid-funded home health services—exactly the areas where Minnesota saw widespread abuse.
At the center of the Ohio scrutiny is a Columbus nonprofit whose revenue has surged on federal grants, alongside a revoked auditor with a Cincinnati-based healthcare firm. Perhaps most strikingly, Somalia’s ambassador to the United Nations was once listed as the head of a Cincinnati home healthcare company that billed Medicaid—raising ethical questions about conflicts of interest, though no wrongdoing has been proven.
The Minnesota Precedent: A $250 Million Warning
The crisis began in Minnesota, home to the nation’s largest Somali community. Federal prosecutors have secured dozens of convictions in the “Feeding Our Future” case, where nonprofits allegedly created shell sites to claim reimbursement for millions of meals that were never served to children. Funds were reportedly diverted to luxury cars, real estate, and travel. In response, the Trump administration froze all federal childcare payments to the state in early January 2026, pending further audits, highlighting the importance of vigilance against any community-based fraud, including Somali fraud potentially developing in Ohio.
Investigators and whistleblowers now warn that Ohio could be “the next Minnesota,” with similar red flags appearing in Columbus daycare networks and home healthcare billing.
Shocking International Connections: Somali Diplomats Tied to Ohio Healthcare Firms
Public records and recent reports have uncovered verified ties between high-level Somali officials and U.S. businesses in Ohio, amid broader fraud allegations—but with no proven wrongdoing to date. The looming possibility of Somali fraud taking root in Ohio raises significant concerns for investigators.
One of the most surprising developments: Somalia’s UN Ambassador, Abukar Dahir Osman, was previously listed as the statutory agent and managing director for Progressive Health Care Services Inc., a Cincinnati-based home healthcare company, according to Ohio corporate records and reports. He held the role from 2014 to 2019, overlapping by nearly two years with his appointment as Somalia’s UN Permanent Representative in 2017.
The company, active since 2009, operates in Medicaid-funded home health services. Records show multiple other Somali-named healthcare firms registered at similar Cincinnati addresses or suites—patterns often flagged in fraud investigations as potential “shell” setups designed to maximize billing while minimizing oversight. No charges have been filed against Osman or the firm.
Additionally, Somalia’s Foreign Minister has founded a multimillion-dollar healthcare operation in Toledo, Ohio. While no wrongdoing is alleged, these connections highlight potential conflicts of interest when foreign diplomats maintain ties to taxpayer-funded U.S. enterprises.
Ohio’s Ground Zero: The Somali Education and Resource Center
In Columbus, attention has focused on the Somali Education and Resource Center (SERC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016. According to ProPublica filings, SERC’s annual revenue has grown dramatically—from modest amounts in its early years to more than $7 million in 2023—largely from program service revenue tied to federal childcare and refugee support grants.
Ohio increased its refugee services budget to approximately $42 million in recent years, with significant portions flowing to organizations serving the Somali community. In discussions surrounding Somali fraud in Ohio, critics allege SERC is linked to dozens of limited liability companies that operate childcare sites, some of which reportedly opened simultaneously and show little visible activity despite claiming substantial reimbursements, as detailed in investigative reporting.
On December 31, 2025, 42 Republican state lawmakers sent a letter demanding unannounced inspections, attendance audits, and potential suspension of funds, stating concerns that “what’s happening in Minnesota is almost certainly occurring in Columbus.”
Cincinnati’s Direct Ties: A Revoked Auditor and Local Healthcare Firm
The story reaches Cincinnati through Mohamed H. Warmahaye, a CPA whose Ohio license was revoked in 2025 for professional misconduct. His firm, H&H Barakad Accounting, provided audits for both SERC in Ohio and a Minnesota nonprofit connected to similar programs—just days apart in 2024—issuing clean opinions shortly before regulators acted against him.
Warmahaye owns Blessing Home Healthcare Inc., based in Cincinnati, which provides senior care services potentially eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. Whistleblower attorney Mehek Cooke has alleged widespread fake home health billing in Ohio’s Somali community—claiming some families receive up to $250,000 annually for services never provided—in a Fox News interview.
Emerging Cases in Other States Highlight National Pattern
The concerns extend beyond the Midwest. In Maine, Gateway Community Services—a migrant-focused agency founded by Somali-born U.S. citizen Abdullahi Ali—has faced suspension of Medicaid payments after audits and whistleblower allegations of over $1 million in improper billing for interpreting services. Ali, who unsuccessfully ran for president of Somalia’s Jubaland region in 2024, stated in interviews that he used personal funds to support security efforts there. No charges have been filed, and Ali denies misusing public money.
Similar reports have surfaced in Washington State and Pennsylvania, suggesting vulnerabilities in federal grant monitoring that could total billions nationwide.
Broader Taxpayer Impact and Calls for Action
Ohio spends more than $800 million annually on childcare programs alone. When combined with refugee resettlement and Medicaid home health services, the exposure runs into the hundreds of millions for Ohio taxpayers.
While no convictions have occurred in Ohio cases as of January 2026, the rapid growth of these programs—coupled with opaque entity structures and international ties—has fueled calls for independent forensic audits, stronger attendance verification, and greater disclosure requirements for grant recipients.
For Cincinnati residents, the local healthcare connections make this more than a Columbus or Minnesota story. Greater transparency is needed to ensure taxpayer dollars reach intended beneficiaries and to protect legitimate refugee support programs from exploitation.
Concerned citizens can contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office or submit tips to the FBI.
This article is based on public allegations, investigations, audits, and records—no proven fraud in cited Ohio or Maine cases yet.
Quick Summary for Readers
Key Takeaways (January 2026):
- Minnesota has seen over $250 million in convicted fraud related to federal meal and childcare programs, leading to a full federal funding freeze.
- Ohio lawmakers are now investigating similar patterns in Columbus-area daycares and refugee services, with no convictions yet.
- A Columbus nonprofit (SERC) has grown rapidly on federal grants and is linked to dozens of childcare LLCs under scrutiny.
- Cincinnati ties include a revoked auditor owning a local home healthcare firm and public records showing Somalia’s UN ambassador previously led a Cincinnati Medicaid-billing company (no charges filed).
- Similar allegations have emerged in Maine, Washington, and other states, pointing to potential nationwide oversight issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Has anyone in Ohio been charged with fraud in these programs?
- No criminal charges or convictions have been reported in the Ohio cases discussed as of January 2026. Investigations are in early stages, driven by lawmaker demands and whistleblower claims.
- Is the Somali community as a whole responsible?
- No. The allegations involve specific nonprofits, businesses, and individuals. The vast majority of Somali Americans are law-abiding residents contributing to their communities.
- Are refugee and childcare programs still operating in Ohio?
- Yes. Federal and state programs continue, though increased scrutiny and potential audits may lead to changes.
- What should I do if I suspect fraud?
- Report tips anonymously to the FBI or the Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
- Why do these programs seem vulnerable to abuse?
- Critics point to reliance on self-reported attendance/billing, limited on-site verification, and rapid growth outpacing oversight resources.
Sources: ProPublica, Fox News, ZeroHedge, NewsCenter Maine, West Central Dispatch, New York Times, and Ohio lawmakers’ statements.
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