WATCH: Independent Journalist Investigates Potential Somali Ghost Daycare in Ohio
Independent journalists have uncovered disturbing evidence of potential ghost daycare operations in Columbus, Ohio, home to the second-largest Somali community in the United States.
The new reporting from Muckraker journalists comes on the heels of a viral exposé by YouTuber Nick Shirley in Minnesota, where similar schemes allegedly siphoned billions in federal funds under the watch of Democrat Governor Tim Walz.
The investigation, led by Muckraker’s Anthony and Josh Rubin, kicked off with a visit to the Great Minds Learning Academy at 2909 E 5th Avenue in Columbus.
In a video posted on X on Monday, Rubin and his team knocked on the facility’s door during business hours, but no one answered. The building appeared deserted, with no signs of activity despite its listing as a licensed childcare center serving children from six weeks to 12 years old, with a capacity of 36 kids.
“Right now we are in front of The Great Minds Learning Academy. This is one of many daycare centers… here in Columbus, Ohio, that are associated with the Somali community,” Rubin says in the video.
Rubin references Shirley, who “put up a bombshell report about all these fraudulent daycare facilities in Minneapolis, Minnesota.”
Determined to investigate similar patterns in Ohio, the team knocked and rang the doorbell, but the door remained locked and unresponsive.
Undeterred, the journalists spoke to neighbors across the street.
One local resident, standing outside a nearby building, told them, “I’ve never seen nobody come out the building or go in the building.”
When pressed if he’d ever seen children or any activity, he reiterated, “No, not at all.”
Another neighbor suggested the facility might use a back entrance, but when the team checked, they found nothing – no cars, no people, no indications of an operational daycare.
WATCH:
FIRST SIGNS OF MASSIVE POTENTIAL SOMALI FRAUD IN COLUMBUS, OHIO
The first Somali-affiliated daycare facility that we knocked after landing in Columbus, Ohio today did not answer.
A neighbor across the street told us, “I’ve never seen nobody come out the building or go in the… pic.twitter.com/zywy9lPDMw
— Muckraker.com (@realmuckraker) December 30, 2025
The Ohio investigation is a direct follow-up to Shirley’s viral YouTube videos, which ignited a firestorm over alleged fraud in Somali-owned daycares in Minnesota.
Shirley’s on-the-ground reporting accused numerous facilities of operating as “ghost” centers, claiming federal reimbursements for non-existent children while showing no signs of actual childcare. His videos, posted during Christmas week, went mega-viral on X, prompting an immediate federal response.
Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet. We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable
We ALL… pic.twitter.com/E3Penx2o7a
— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) December 26, 2025
In response, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security announced they were “surging resources” into Minnesota to investigate. His findings build on existing scandals, including the Feeding Our Future case, where prosecutors have charged nearly 100 individuals in a scheme that allegedly stole over $250 million in COVID-era funds meant for feeding children.
Columbus hosts over 45,000 Somali migrants, the second-largest such community after Minneapolis.
Public records show Great Minds Learning Academy is part of the Somali Education & Resource Center network.
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