- A Kenyan man at the centre of a KSh 1.4 billion fraud scheme in the US has vanished after skipping a crucial court hearing
- Abdirashid Ismail Said and his accomplices allegedly billed an insurance company for services that were never provided
- A warrant for his arrest has been issued, raising concerns about how he was able to post bond without surrendering his passport
A Kenyan man accused of orchestrating a KSh 1.4 billion ($11 million) Medicaid fraud scheme in the US has gone missing after failing to appear in court, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest.
Source: UGC
Abdirashid Ismail Said did not show up for a scheduled pretrial hearing in Hennepin County, Minnesota, this week, leading to the forfeiture of his bond and an immediate search by law enforcement officials.
How much was Said’s bond?
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison confirmed that the 50-year-old is now wanted and that his office is coordinating with federal authorities to track him down.
“My Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is working with federal law enforcement to locate Said and ensure he faces justice for the fraud he committed,” Ellison said in a statement shared by the New York Post.
He admitted that the development was a “deeply frustrating setback,” but he remained committed to doing everything he could to hold Said and other Medicaid fraudsters accountable.
According to court records, Said had posted a KSh 19 million ($150,000) unconditional bond, which allowed him to avoid stricter conditions such as surrendering his passport.
When did Said commit fraud?
Prosecutors had argued that a lower KSh 6.4 million ($50,000) conditional bond should have been imposed, which would have restricted his travel due to concerns he might flee, citing his family ties abroad.
Said has been charged with racketeering and multiple counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindle in connection with an alleged scheme that defrauded Minnesota’s Medicaid programme of nearly KSh 1.4 billion ($11 million).
Prosecutors allege the scheme ran between 2019 and 2023 and involved Said secretly operating several Medicaid-funded home health care agencies, despite being previously barred from participating in such programmes following an earlier fraud conviction.
Authorities say Said and alleged co-conspirators submitted claims for services that were never provided, improperly recorded, or supported by falsified documentation.
Source: Facebook
Details of Said’s fraud case
Investigators also claim the group billed for ineligible services and inflated charges beyond approved rates.
Court filings indicate that one agency alone received more than KSh 594 million ($4.6 million) based on allegedly falsified records.
Investigators further found nearly KSh 129 million ($1 million) in claims linked to clients who denied receiving any services.
That was alongside over KSh 38 million ($300,000) in overbilling and more than KSh 749 million ($5.8 million) in claims that were either undocumented or fraudulently documented.
Records show Said was previously convicted of Medicaid fraud in 2022, ordered to repay KSh 9.9 million ($77,000), and permanently barred from working with Medicaid-funded organisations.
Prosecutors now allege he violated that restriction by continuing to operate within the sector. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to locate him as the case continues to unfold.
Kenyan man facing deportation from US
In a similar case, a Kenyan man who once arrived in the United States with the promise of opportunity is set to be deported for his involvement in crime.
Jackson Kabut’s story started 22 years ago when he went to the US on a visitor’s visa, but he didn’t return when his authorised stay expired.
Things changed when he became entangled in a serious conviction that sealed his fate and earned him a date with immigration.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
