More secrets are being discovered and it doesn’t look good.
A shocking new whistleblower report is exposing what appears to be major Medicaid fraud inside a Democrat-run state program—and it’s now being compared to the billion-dollar scandal that rocked Minnesota. This time, the spotlight is on Maine, where millions of taxpayer dollars may have been funneled to a contractor with international political ambitions.
For seniors, taxpayers, and hardworking Americans already fed up with government waste, this case is yet another reminder of why President Trump continues calling out systemic fraud inside state-managed welfare programs.
Whistleblower Says Millions Were Stolen From Taxpayers
The allegations center on Gateway Community Services, a Portland-based contractor paid by MaineCare—the state’s Medicaid program—to assist vulnerable residents. Instead of delivering promised services, one longtime employee says Gateway billed the state for work that never happened and manipulated records to hide it.
Christopher Bernardini, who spent seven years with the organization, told NewsNation he was stunned by what he saw.
“I thought we were helping people,” he said. “I never imagined this kind of corruption was happening behind the scenes.”
Bernardini says he watched Gateway invent staff visits, falsify logs, and submit timecards for employees who never met with clients—all paid for by Maine taxpayers.
A Scandal With Echoes of Minnesota’s Somali Fraud Ring
The story has quickly drawn comparisons to the enormous Somali-linked social services fraud scandal in Minnesota, where over $1 billion vanished from public programs.
Gateway’s founder and CEO, Abdullahi Ali, was born in Somalia and recently ran for regional president in Somalia’s Jubaland territory—all while operating his U.S. nonprofit.
The parallels have not gone unnoticed.
COVID Relief Funds Fueled Even More Abuse, Whistleblower Says
Bernardini says the fraud exploded during the pandemic, when federal PPP loan money began flowing.
He alleges the company:
- Hired “ghost employees” who never worked
- Awarded $2,000 bonuses to brand-new staff with no client contact
- Filed inflated payroll hours
- Charged MaineCare for services never performed
Meanwhile, loyal longtime staff members received nothing.
“They were handing out $2,000 bonuses like candy,” Bernardini recalled. “I’d been there for years and never saw a penny of that.”
Another former employee confirmed seeing fake timecards and manipulated documentation—strongly suggesting a coordinated scheme.
$28.8 Million in Taxpayer Funding, Almost Zero Oversight
State documents obtained through Maine’s Freedom of Access Act reveal Gateway collected $28.8 million in Medicaid payments over five years.
State investigators previously flagged $776,000 in overpayments—but whistleblowers say the real number could be far higher.
Bernardini reported the fraud to multiple agencies, including DHS and the state auditor. Instead of swift action, he says he was terminated—and later questioned about whether he contacted federal authorities.
That development alone has raised eyebrows among Maine taxpayers wondering what the state might be trying to hide.
CEO Defends Himself, But Republicans Demand Answers
Ali insisted last week that the allegations are “fabricated,” adding that he is proud of his Somali-American identity and his international political pursuits.
But Republicans in Maine say the Democrat administration ignored repeated warnings.
State Sen. Matt Harrington didn’t mince words:
“The Mills Administration has ignored clear, credible warnings about Somali-connected fraud within MaineCare, and taxpayers have been completely let down.”
For many older Americans watching Medicare and Medicaid costs soar, this latest scandal underscores exactly what President Trump has long argued: Democrat-run welfare systems are wide open for abuse—and Washington needs leaders willing to confront the corruption.
