Fact Check: Did Trump pardon man who stole more than Minnesota Somali fraudsters?

WASHINGTON, DC: In late December 2025, a viral claim circulated across social media alleging President Donald Trump pardoned Philip Esformes, a Florida nursing home executive convicted of massive fraud, claiming he stole more money than the people involved in the Minnesota welfare fraud case.

But is this claim accurate? Let’s break it down.

Claim: Trump pardoned Philip Esformes over Minnesota Somali fraudsters

Social media users circulated a comparison between the 'Feeding Our Future' fraud case in Minnesota—which involved the alleged misuse of around $250 million from federal meal programs by several individuals within the Somali-American community—and Philip Esformes’ case.

Posts claimed that Trump had pardoned Esformes, who was convicted of one of the largest Medicare fraud schemes in US history, involving roughly $1.3 billion. 

A post by @cturnbull1968 on X included a photo of Esformes with the caption, “If you’re angry about the Minnesota day care fraud, the case below will really upset you. Philip Esformes ran a massive nursing-home fraud scheme, bribing doctors to funnel patients and billing Medicare for unnecessary services for $1.2B. He was pardoned by Trump in 2020.”

Another version of the claim circulated on Facebook via Occupy Democrats. It showed a grid of Trump and Esformes, with text reading, "Philip Esformes in Florida committed MORE FRAUD with his company than every single Somali scheme in the state of Minnesota COMBINED. His total fraud was $1,300,000,000. TRUMP PARDONED HIM, SO HE GOT AWAY FREE!"

The posts sparked outrage online, emphasizing a perceived inconsistency between the treatment of the Minnesota welfare fraud case and Esformes’ sentence.

Fact Check: Trump commuted sentence but did not pardon

In reality, Trump commuted Esformes’ prison term but did not pardon him. The commutation allowed Esformes to be released early, but the rest of his sentence—including three years of supervised release and $44 million in restitution—remained in effect. 

It is important to note the distinction: a pardon wipes out a crime and the person’s criminal record, while a commutation only shortens the prison sentence. Several former attorneys general supported Esformes’ commutation due to prosecutorial misconduct during his trial, including breaches of attorney-client privilege.

Philip Esformes’ conviction for $1.3 billion healthcare fraud

Philip Esformes had been in custody since July 2016 and was convicted in April 2019 for orchestrating the largest healthcare fraud case in US history. He submitted $1.3 billion in false Medicare and Medicaid claims for unnecessary services at nursing homes and assisted-living centers under his control.