- Fraud & Scams
- Nov 5, 2026
12 Charged As Feds EXPOSE $10M Ghost Daycare Scheme Where They Caught 0 Children & Billing OVERSEAS
Twelve home daycares billed a government child care program for as many as 25 children a day. Federal surveillance cameras watched one of them for 57 days. Children showed up on only one: the day a state inspector made a surprise visit.
Prosecutors say twelve people collected more than $10 million meant to help low-income families pay for child care. One provider is accused of billing for about 120 days of care while he was on trips outside the country. Four defendants took in more than $1 million each.
In this report
- How the attendance-sheet system was allegedly gamed
- The surveillance footage prosecutors say shows zero children
- Where the IRS says the money went
- The question prosecutors refused to answer at their press conference
- Why the prosecutor said the arrests can’t be a surprise to the agencies that paid out the money
Presumption of innocence
All information comes from federal court complaints, the U.S. Attorney’s Office press conference and published news reports. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
