Five new defendants charged in Minnesota housing services fraud scheme

MINNEAPOLIS — Five new defendants have been charged in connection with a Minnesota housing services fraud scheme, The Associated Press reported on Dec. 18, 2025, at 1:11 p.m. local time.

The AP wire story said the charges involve a Minnesota housing services fraud scheme, but it did not immediately disclose the specific charges, the identities of the defendants, or the agency bringing the case.

Authorities described the charges as part of an ongoing investigation into improper handling of housing-related funds in Minnesota. The report provided few details about how the scheme operated, when it began, or the potential penalties faced by those charged.

As with prior steps in the case, officials did not immediately release the defendants’ names or the precise statutory charges. Investigators indicated that more information would be released as the case proceeds through the courts, and that prosecutors would present the matter to the appropriate tribunal in due course.

The development comes amid broader national scrutiny of fraud in public housing and social-services programs, which lawmakers and watchdogs say require rigorous oversight to deter waste and abuse. Officials urged caution in interpreting early disclosures and noted that updates would follow as investigative steps unfold.

The AP report did not immediately provide the identities of the defendants or the specific statutes cited, leaving details to be released in subsequent court filings. In Minnesota, housing services programs involve a mix of local, state and federal oversight, and authorities often expand investigations when new defendants are charged. The case underscores ongoing efforts to curb fraud in programs designed to assist vulnerable residents and maintain access to affordable housing.