Somali Minnesota Fraud Suspect Flees Bail

A man accused of orchestrating an $11 million Medicaid fraud scheme in Minnesota failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing this week, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest and raising uncertainty about the case’s progress.

Abdirashid Ismail Said, 50, did not attend a pretrial hearing in Hennepin County, resulting in the forfeiture of his bond, according to state officials. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office is now working with federal law enforcement to locate Said.

“This is a deeply frustrating setback,” Ellison said, adding that efforts are ongoing to ensure the suspect faces prosecution.

Said had previously posted a $150,000 unconditional bond, which did not require him to surrender his passport. Prosecutors had raised concerns about his potential flight risk, citing international family connections.

According to the criminal complaint, Said is charged with racketeering and multiple counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindle. Authorities allege that between 2019 and 2023, he secretly operated several Medicaid-funded home healthcare agencies despite being barred from participating in such programs following a prior fraud conviction.

Investigators claim the scheme involved billing Medicaid for services that were never provided, falsifying records, and inflating charges. One agency alone allegedly received more than $4.6 million based on fraudulent documentation. Additional claims include nearly $1 million billed for patients who denied receiving care, along with millions more tied to undocumented or ineligible services.

Court records show Said was convicted in 2022 in a separate Medicaid fraud case and ordered to pay $77,000, along with a ban on working with Medicaid-funded entities. Prosecutors argue he violated that restriction in carrying out the alleged scheme.

The case comes amid broader scrutiny of fraud oversight in Minnesota. State officials, including Governor Tim Walz, have faced criticism over enforcement gaps following multiple high-profile fraud cases involving public funds.

Among them is the large-scale “Feeding Our Future” investigation, in which defendants are accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $250 million through fake meal programs. Former federal prosecutor Joe Thompson has suggested that total fraud across various programs in the state could reach into the billions.

Authorities have not disclosed Said’s whereabouts, and efforts to locate him are ongoing.