2026年8月18日 美国东部时间上午10:41 / 福克斯新闻
萨尔曼·艾哈迈德·埃尔米面临八项与医疗补助计划诈骗相关的指控
作者：安德鲁·马克·米勒 福克斯新闻
一名曾获明尼苏达州政府颁发“杰出难民”奖项的移民被控医疗补助欺诈，此举在社交媒体上引发强烈反弹。
据明尼阿波利斯福克斯9台报道，萨尔曼·艾哈迈德·埃尔米面临三项协助诈骗罪和五项以虚假陈述协助犯罪罪，涉案骗局涉嫌通过虚假服务向医疗补助系统骗取超过100万美元。指控还称，该诈骗团伙的两名成员与一个涉及妓院的性贩运网络有关联。
2021年，深度卷入近年来全州范围内大规模诈骗案的明尼苏达州人类服务部向埃尔米颁发了“杰出难民”称号以及创业奖。
指控消息很快通过自由TikTok（LibsofTikTok）和“终结觉醒”（End Wokeness）等保守派影响力账号在社交媒体上传播开来。
一名被州政府称为“杰出难民”的明尼苏达州移民被控参与大规模诈骗案。（路透社/明尼苏达州人类服务部）
万斯副总统称移民社区在联邦诈骗中呈现“明显模式”，调查范围扩大
“这个群体中的诈骗现象如此猖獗，他们不仅未受惩罚，反而得到奖励，”美国行动组织创始人布里吉特·加布里埃尔在X平台上写道。“当体制为掠夺者庆祝时，你就已经出现了文化问题。”
“驱逐出境，”《市政厅》专栏作家达斯汀·格雷奇在X平台上发文。
“这就是明尼苏达州民主党官员所造就的，”共和党全国委员会成员AK·卡马拉在X平台上写道。“无尽的堕落与纳税人资助的欺诈。”
奥马尔的共和党挑战者公开表态，誓言整治深蓝选区的“烂摊子”：“民众早已忍无可忍”
明尼苏达州州长蒂姆·瓦尔茨2026年3月4日在华盛顿特区国会大厦出席众议院监督与改革委员会听证会。（盖蒂图片社）
“离谱到根本编不出来，”保守派评论员埃里克·多达蒂在X平台上写道。“把这些人赶出我的国家。”
“颁发埃尔米奖项的同一个机构，正是负责发放医疗补助款项的同一机构，”保守派评论员本尼·约翰逊在X平台上写道。“真的离谱到难以置信。”
明尼阿波利斯福克斯9台还报道称，埃尔米曾参与一家获得《创智赢家》明星凯文·奥利里投资的初创企业。
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“我创业是为了激励其他人，”埃尔米在明尼苏达州人类服务部网站的一篇存档帖子中说道。“我家没人做过生意；我们全家来到美国时，只想找份工作、安稳度日，所以改变这种心态很困难，但很重要。闯过这些险滩让我能够养家糊口，按自己的方式工作。”
自2019年起由蒂姆·瓦尔茨州长领导的明尼苏达州政府，过去一年备受关注。检察官称，涉及当地索马里社区的系统性诈骗涉案金额可能超过90亿美元，已在全州多个部门和项目中曝光。
福克斯新闻数字频道去年报道称，批评人士认为，这一公开秘密多年的诈骗行为之所以能得逞，是因为人们因害怕被贴上“种族主义者”标签而不敢公开揭发。
瓦尔茨最终因这场风波放弃了连任竞选。
福克斯新闻数字频道已联系瓦尔茨办公室置评。
明尼苏达州人类服务部发言人在给福克斯新闻数字频道的一份声明中表示，“杰出难民奖”已于2024年停办。
“萨尔曼·埃尔米所谓的行为令人不安，与杰出难民奖的宗旨背道而驰，”发言人说道。“这也不能代表明尼苏达州的难民社区。我们身边有邻居、同事、员工和朋友，他们都有着在逆境中坚韧不拔的动人故事，无论大小事都在发挥领导作用，改善自己的社区。杰出难民奖旨在表彰那些让明尼苏达州变得更美好的个人。”
发言人补充称，获奖者仅获得证书和牌匾，没有奖金。
“其价值在于为我们提供了一个表彰难民及其子女的勇气、韧性和创业精神的机会，表彰他们为州作出的贡献，”发言人说道。“难民和移民为我们急需的劳动力市场提供技能，带来创业创新，拓展全球人脉——所有这些都让明尼苏达州受益。”
安德鲁·马克·米勒是福克斯新闻记者。可在推特@andymarkmiller找到他，可发送爆料邮件至AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com。
Minnesota ‘outstanding refugee’ honoree accused in fraud scheme tied to sex trafficking: ‘Can’t make this up’
August 18, 2026 10:41am EDT / Fox News
Salman Ahmed Elmi faces eight counts related to a Medicaid scheme
By Andrew Mark Miller Fox News
An immigrant in Minnesota who once received an “outstanding refugee” award from the state government has been charged with Medicaid fraud, prompting strong backlash on social media.
Salman Ahmed Elmi is facing three counts of aiding and abetting by swindle and five counts of aiding and abetting by false representation as part of an alleged scam to bill Medicaid for over $1 million in fraudulent services, Fox 9 Minneapolis reported.The charges also allege that two members involved in the fraud scheme were tied to a sex-trafficking ring involving brothels.
In 2021, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, an agency deeply involved in the massive fraud scheme that has unfolded across the state in recent years, honored Elmi with the title “outstanding refugee” along with an Entrepreneurship Award.
News of the charges quickly spread on social media via conservative influencer accounts like LibsofTikTok and End Wokeness.
A Minnesota immigrant who the state government called an “outstanding refugee” has been charged in a massive fraud scheme.(Reuters/Minnesota DHS)
VICE PRESIDENT VANCE SAYS MIGRANT COMMUNITIES SHOW ‘CLEAR PATTERN’ IN FEDERAL FRAUD AS INVESTIGATIONS WIDEN
“Fraud is so rampant in this demographic that it’s rewarded instead of punished,” ACT for America Founder Brigitte Gabriel posted on X.”When the system celebrates the looters, you have a culture problem.”
“Deport,” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X.
“This is the Minnesota Democrat officials created,” Republican National Committee member AK Kamara posted on X. “Endless depravity and taxpayer-funded fraud.”
OMAR’S GOP CHALLENGER COMES OUT FIRING WITH VOW TO CLEAN UP ‘MESS’ IN DEEP BLUE DISTRICT: ‘PEOPLE ARE FED UP’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz testifies during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2026.(Getty Images)
“You literally cannot make this up,” conservative pundit Eric Daugherty posted on X. “Get these people out of my country.”
“The same agency that awarded Elmi is the SAME agency that gives out Medicaid payments,” conservative commentator Benny Johnson posted on X. “You can’t make this up.”
Fox 9 Minneapolis also reported that Elmi was part of a startup that received financial backing from Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary.
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“I started a business to help inspire other people,” Elmi said in an archived post on the Minnesota DHS website. “No one owns businesses in my family; my entire family came here with the idea that the American dream was just getting a job and making it work, so shifting that mindset was difficult but important. Navigating those treacherous waters allowed me to provide for my family and work on my terms.”
The Minnesota state government, led by Gov. Tim Walz since 2019, has been under the microscope over the past year as systemic fraud, largely involving the local Somali community, that prosecutors say could total more than $9 billion has been exposed throughout various departments and programs in the state.
Critics have argued that the fraud, which was an open secret for years, was aided by the fear of publicly calling it out over fears of being labeled as “racist,” Fox News Digital reported last year.
Walz was ultimately forced to drop his bid for re-election amid the fallout.
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office for comment.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Minnesota DHS spokesperson said the Outstanding Refugee Awards ended in 2024.
“Salman Elmi’s alleged actions are disturbing and do not reflect the goal of the Outstanding Refugee Awards,” the spokesperson said. “They also do not represent Minnesota’s refugee community. We are surrounded by neighbors, coworkers, employees and friends with powerful stories of resilience in the face of difficult circumstances, who are showing leadership in small as well as large ways to improve their communities. The Outstanding Refugee Awards were a way to recognize some of the individuals who make Minnesota better for all of us.”
The spokesperson added that recipients received a certificate and a plaque but no monetary award.
“The value came from the opportunity to recognize the courage, resilience and entrepreneurship of refugees and their children, and to recognize their contributions to the state,” the spokesperson said. “Refugees and immigrants offer skills to a needed workforce, provide entrepreneurial innovation and expand worldwide networks – all of which benefit Minnesota.”
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
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