Man Charged With Stealing $11m From Minnesota Medicaid Has Fled Before Court Hearing
Authorities in Minnesota are searching for Abdirashid Ismail Said after he failed to appear at a pre-trial hearing in a major Medicaid fraud case, leading to a court-issued arrest warrant and the forfeiture of his $150,000 bond.
Said, 50, was charged in December 2023 by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison alongside two alleged associates. Prosecutors say the case relates to a scheme that siphoned nearly $11 million from the state’s Medicaid programme between 2019 and 2023.
Investigators allege that Said operated three home healthcare agencies—Faym Health, Prestige Health, and Minnesota Home Health Care—despite being barred from participation in Medicaid-funded services following a previous fraud conviction in 2022. The agencies are accused of billing for services that were not provided, not properly documented, or supported by false records.
Court documents show that investigators had previously raised concerns about Said’s risk of absconding, pointing to his overseas family connections, including a wife living in Nairobi, Kenya, and the seriousness of the charges. He posted an unconditional $150,000 bond, which did not require him to surrender his passport, rather than a lower conditional bond that would have done so.
Prosecutors allege that Faym Health alone received more than $4.6 million based on falsified documentation. In other cases, clients reportedly denied receiving care that was billed to Medicaid, accounting for nearly $1 million in claims.
Overall losses are estimated at more than $10.9 million. Investigators also say a case manager admitted to fabricating records at Said’s direction and received $73,000 for her role.
Mr Ellison described the situation as a setback but said his office, working with federal law enforcement, remains committed to pursuing the case. He said beneficiaries of Medical Assistance are entitled to receive proper care and that fraud undermines that system.
Two alleged co-conspirators, Ali Abdirizak Ahmed and Said Awil Ibrahim, also face charges. Prosecutors describe Said as the principal figure in the alleged scheme. His current whereabouts are unknown, and the scheduled jury trial has been cancelled.
