Owner of child care center involved in fraud investigation denies allegations

A statement issued Friday on behalf of a Faribault child care center operator denies any wrongdoing in an alleged case of fraud currently being investigated by local police, the State Bureau of Investigation and Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Abdulahi Hussein was named in a search warrant executed earlier this month at Hyatt Daycare on Cardinal Lane. According to the warrant, Human Services and police investigators, as well as SBI agents, believed the center was claiming it served more children receiving Childcare Assistance benefits than were in attendance. Their beliefs, court records show, came from surveillance of the center by law enforcement.

The number of children seen entering the building did not match the number Hyatt was reporting it served.

The warrant allowed investigators to seize records, documents and devices those records could be stored on. DHS is analyzing the records taken during the search, the warrant said.

In a statement to the Daily News, attorney John Hamer pointed out that Hyatt Daycare has been open in Faribault for six years, and noted Hussein's local business ties, and the center's high rating and partnerships.

"Mr. Hussein has become an extremely well-regarded member of the Faribault business community. Mr. Hussein serves on the Faribault Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Hyatt Daycare has received a four-star rating from Parent Aware. It partners with the Head Start program and Families First of Minnesota.

"The daycare provides a needed service to families of all ethnicities and economic backgrounds. From day one, Hussein has worked diligently to ensure compliance with state and local laws. For this reason, Hyatt triple-checks its daily attendance. Any claims of manipulation of the attendance numbers is simply false. We look forward to cooperating with the investigators to clear Hyatt Daycare and emphasize that neither the daycare nor Mr. Hussein have been charged with any crime.

"Hyatt urges the Faribault community to continue to trust it to provide the same service and education customers have come to expect over the last six years."