Fraud Investigation of Autism Center Raises Questions for Minnesota Senate Candidate

An autism center connected to a longtime acquaintance of Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan is under investigation for fraud. The center, Milestone Development Center, operated by Nimco Ahmed, is being scrutinized alongside the Spectrum Therapy Center. This development came to light through a report by Alpha News and was confirmed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services to Fox News Digital.

These agencies are on our radar, a representative from the DHS stated. The Minnesota Department of Human Services has ongoing investigations into both Spectrum Therapy Center and Milestone Development Centers. Due to legal constraints, we cannot disclose specific details about open investigations. However, we can share that both agencies were terminated from the Medicaid program as part of Minnesota Revalidate 2026. This revalidation process ensures agencies meet necessary credentials and follow state and federal regulations. Both centers have challenged their termination.

Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota’s current Lieutenant Governor, appeared in a video that went viral on social media. In it, she wore a hijab and stood next to Nimco Ahmed at a Somali market. Ahmed, identified as the CEO of Milestone, has longstanding ties with Flanagan, having been friends for nearly 25 years.

Many have criticized Flanagan in light of the investigation. Serving as the state’s lieutenant governor since 2019, she faces questions about her responses to the fraud allegations that have persisted over the years.

Nimco Ahmed, who stood beside Peggy Flanagan in a hijab, runs an autism center under investigation, commented Townhall columnist Dustin Grage on X. This narrative seems almost unbelievable. Conservative influencer LibsofTikTok echoed this sentiment, expressing frustration with how events unfolded. Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector and contributor to Fox News, also commented on X, expressing difficulty in keeping abreast of developments.

Former therapist Grant Morgan, who worked at Milestone for two months in 2023, shared observations with Alpha News. He noted the absence of a Qualified Supervising Professional or a Board Certified Behavior Analyst to oversee operations. Many practitioners, he said, seemed unqualified or unfamiliar with applied behavior analysis.

Morgan also highlighted concerns about the lack of session documentation, which is crucial for Medicaid billing. He described the treatments offered as ineffective and suggested the possibility of billing fraud, although he was not directly involved in billing processes. He questioned the autism diagnoses of some clients.

Nimco Ahmed refuted these claims, attributing them to bias, as reported to Alpha News. She insisted that Milestone had QSP and BCBA oversight and that all children had verified autism diagnoses. Ahmed affirmed that the center adheres to state regulations and undergoes regular audits.

Fox News reached out to Milestone for additional comments regarding the investigation and Meg Flanagan’s role in the ongoing fraud case.