New York, New York - Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz recently teamed up with MAGA journalist Nick Shirley to investigate alleged fraud they say is being committed by the "Korean and Chinese mafias."
On Friday, Shirley shared a nearly hour-long video on YouTube in which he claims to have uncovered $190 million in fraud at social adult daycare centers and pharmacies across Flushing, a Queens neighborhood that is home to predominantly Korean and Chinese communities.
"One of the largest fraud schemes in America is taking place in New York City as billions of dollars are being defrauded by organized Korean and Chinese mafias, along with other foreigners operating and stealing taxpayer dollars," Shirley said in the clip.
He is then seen visiting several daycares and telling staff that he wants to sign his grandmother up for services.
After getting himself into their buildings, he then begins hounding them about concerns about their financial disclosures.
Many of the facility staff members appear confused, weary, and caught off guard, as English does not seem to be their first language. Some realized that they were being filmed, and others admitted that they were not knowledgeable about the financial data of the facility.
Later in the video, Shirley is joined by Dr. Oz, who made a number of wild claims, such as how durable medical suppliers "grow like vermin" because "it's easier to open one than a bank account." He said that "it's very hard" for law enforcement to stay caught up on the fraud, but he has it figured out.
"The big issue with these centers is not that they are providing social adult daycare, it's that it's a clubhouse for criminals," he added.
Nick Shirley's rise to MAGA fame
Shirley went viral last year with a video claiming he discovered a network of "Somali-run fraudulent businesses" throughout Minnesota that were funded by the state.
Similar to his New York video, the Minnesota video saw Shirley visiting various businesses under false pretenses and then confronting staff.
He then presents loose speculation, questions the staff's inability or refusal to answer questions, and notes contradictions with data he has available as evidence of widespread fraud that is costing Americans millions.
Despite the integrity of the "reporting" being up for debate, the video gained the attention of President Donald Trump and members of his administration, who quickly began sharing it around social media and accusing state Governor Tim Walz of being complicit in the fraud.
The pressure led to Walz announcing that he was dropping out of his bid for reelection.
President Trump has made tackling fraud on the state and federal levels a major focus of his second term in office, but he has disproportionately targeted Democrat-run states and cities.