Sentencing dates for the two defendants will be set at a later date.
Two of the 15 defendants accused of stealing federal program money back in May have pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges.
Fahima Egeh Mahamud, 50, of Minneapolis, and Jillaine Mertens, 42, of Hamel, each entered guilty pleas Thursday as part of agreements with prosecutors.
Prosecutors say Mertens collected more than $400,000 in fraudulent claims across three childcare centers in Ramsey, Rochester and Kasson.
Mahumud is accused of taking $5.5 million in taxpayer money through her daycare, Future Leaders.
Both will be sentenced at a yet-to-be-determined future date.
Top federal officials came to Minnesota in May to announce the charges against the 15 defendants.
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This type of fraud targets the supply chain and accounts payable departments of businesses.
- Invoice Manipulation: Criminals intercept a legitimate invoice between a supplier and a client and change the banking details to their own. The client pays the bill thinking they are paying their trusted vendor.
- Kickbacks and Bribery: A vendor secretly pays an employee of the purchasing company to ensure their bid is successful or to overlook inflated pricing.