Gov. Tim Walz called Thursday for Minnesota to increase criminal penalties for Medicaid fraud in response to the FBI’s investigation into autism service providers. The FBI searched at least two Minnesota autism centers Thursday as it investigated “substantial evidence” of fraudulent Medicaid claims made by many companies participating in the state program.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Republicans are blaming the Democrats for the FBI investigation into fraud at least two Minnesota autism centers.

The FBI and state investigators raided the Smart Therapy Center's business office in Minneapolis and the Star Autism Center's office in St. Cloud on Thursday morning.

They took taxpayer dollars to care for vulnerable children, but investigators say they pocketed that cash instead. The FBI secured and seized boxes of evidence from two autism centers Thursday. We're learning these raids are connected to another massive fraud case.

Gov. Tim Walz called Thursday for Minnesota to increase criminal penalties for Medicaid fraud in response to the FBI’s investigation into autism service providers. The FBI searched at least two Minnesota autism centers Thursday as it investigated “substantial evidence” of fraudulent Medicaid claims made by many companies participating in the state program.

FBI agents are searching at least two Minnesota autism centers Thursday as part of an investigation into alleged Medicaid fraud. U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger says there were indications about this fraud case during Feeding Our Future investigation.

The FBI raided autism treatment centers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud for alleged fraud, and tie them to the Feeding Our Future case.