ST PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Attorney General's Office charged three people with racketeering, theft by swindle and a host of other crimes in what they describe as the largest-ever Medicaid fraud prosecution by the Minnesota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Attorney General's Office.
The defendants are accused of operating personal care assistant businesses where they allegedly overbilled clients, created fraudulent reimbursements and used other tactics to steal nearly $11 million.
"Minnesotans who receive Medical Assistance have a right to expect that they’ll receive all the care, dignity, and respect they’re entitled to. Minnesotans trying to afford their lives have a right to expect that every one of their tax dollars will be put to use properly. People who commit Medicaid fraud violate both of those rights. My office is working aggressively to hold them accountable and will keep doing so,” Attorney General Keith Ellison said.
The man named as the "principal actor" in the scheme is Abdirashid Ismail Said, who was previously convicted of theft by swindle and ordered by a judge to no longer work for companies that receive Medicaid reimbursements.
"This is part of our culture, to help people," Said testified, adding that within the Minneapolis Somali community, friends and family members help each other out financially without the paper trail some might expect.
According to the criminal complaints filed Thursday, Said conspired with Ali Abdirizak Ahmed, 37, and Said Awil Ibrahim, 24.
The charges say they routinely billed for services not performed and for more services than employees documented.
In one text message conversation cited in the complaint, Ibrahim wrote, "Next pay period bro I’ll bill 50k. Im gonna over bill the hours."
"Hala luya. Amen," Said allegedly responded.
In September, 18 people were charged as part of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit's investigation into PCA companies. The attorney general's office says more charges are expected against additional people in the future.
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