Kenyan Sex Offender Worked in Minnesota Education Department After Ignoring Deportation Order

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is facing intense scrutiny over its hiring protocols after it emerged that a Kenyan national with a prior conviction for criminal sexual conduct briefly held a senior position within the department. 

Wilson Tindi, 42, served as Director of Internal Audit and Advisory Services for just over two months before his departure on 27 June 2025. Tindi's abrupt exit from the MDE followed renewed attention on a 2016 conviction in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The conviction stemmed from a 2014 incident where Tindi entered a woman's apartment without permission and assaulted her while she slept. 

The case resulted in a suspended sentence, a 210-day term in the county workhouse, and an order to pay $1,000 in restitution to the victim. He pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, while a separate burglary charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement.

The timeline of Tindi's residency in the United States adds further complexity to the situation. He initially entered the country in November 2005 on a six-month visa, but remained after its expiry. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained him in 2009, but he secured his release by successfully petitioning to reopen his immigration proceedings.

Following his conviction, a deportation order was issued. However, Tindi remained in the country after filing a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that he posed no danger. A judge agreed, leading to his release from ICE custody in February 2018 after serving 18 months. Despite his unresolved immigration status, Tindi subsequently found employment in internal auditing roles, including positions within the healthcare sector.

His appointment at MDE in April 2025 only came to public attention after his arrest on an unrelated matter, the details of which remain undisclosed. The department has confirmed that Tindi was employed on a probationary basis and did not have direct access to student data or interactions with schools. Nonetheless, the circumstances surrounding his hiring have raised serious questions about the vetting procedures within state agencies.

Minnesota House Representative Kristen Robbins (R-Maple Grove) has voiced strong concerns about the adequacy of background checks within state government. In a letter to the Education Commissioner, Robbins questioned how Tindi, given his criminal history, was approved for a director-level position. 

"I am concerned," she wrote, "that an individual who is a registered sex offender and has a felony conviction could pass a background check in a state agency and be hired at a director level, with management responsibilities and access to Minnesota private data."

Tindi's annual salary at MDE, £115,485, has also drawn criticism, particularly given ongoing concerns about safeguarding within educational environments. While MDE has insisted that his position was internally focused and limited in scope, the broader implications of his hiring decision are sparking debate about oversight in government recruitment, particularly for roles involving public accountability and financial scrutiny.