Multiple Individuals Arrested for Health Care Fraud Conspiracy following Homeland Security Task Force Investigation

BANGOR, Maine: Six Maine residents were arrested today after being indicted by a federal grand jury last week for health care fraud conspiracy. One Maine company was also charged in the indictment. In addition, two of these same individuals were charged with obstructing a health care fraud investigation while another was charged with making false statements.

As alleged in the indictment, Noora Abd, a/k/a "Um Mohammed," 37, Faysal Kalayaf Manahe, a/k/a "Abu Aziz," 51, Adel Al Rashid, a/k/a "Abu Ayman," 47, Sura Almohammed, a/k/a "Um Ayman," 47, Ether Alyaseen, 46, Mohammed Alkhalaf, a/k/a "Abu Stayf," 41, and Community Home Health Care LLC are charged with health care fraud conspiracy. Noora Abd and Faysal Kalayaf Manahe are also charged with obstructing a health care fraud investigation while Mohammed Alkhalaf is charged with making false statements.

According to the indictment, Community Home Health Care, LLC ("Community") is a licensed personal care agency headquartered in South Portland. Defendant Noora Abd owned and operated Community while the other defendants named in the indictment were employed by Community as personal support specialists and in other capacities. Community, through Noora Abd, billed and was paid by MaineCare for personal care services. The indictment alleges that the defendants submitted false Electronic Visit Verifications claiming to have performed personal care services for clients of Community when, in fact, these services had not been performed. The indictment further alleges that since 2020, Community and Noora Abd have submitted numerous claims to MaineCare for personal care services purportedly provided to a single Community client, identified in the indictment as Client 1, totaling more than $600,000.

"Health care fraud - in all its forms - costs all of us, and today's arrests should make it clear that if, as alleged in the indictment returned last week, you steal from our health care system for your own financial gain, you too, will be shut down and brought to justice," said U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson. "Protecting the integrity of all our federally funded health care programs for those who really need them is paramount. I am grateful for the hard work of our federal and state investigative partners, and our own attorneys and staff, in this important Homeland Security Task Force investigation."

"Today, the FBI and our partners arrested six people who thought they had hit upon a surefire moneymaker by allegedly defrauding MaineCare of big money. All told, their litany of alleged fraudulent claims netted hundreds of thousands of dollars to which they were not entitled and for services they allegedly did not provide. To make matters worse, two of them are accused of trying to obstruct our investigation," said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Boston Division. "Fraud and abuse take critical resources out of our country's vital healthcare system and cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars every year. Your FBI and our partners will continue to root out and bring to justice anyone fleecing the U.S. government."

"As alleged, these defendants conspired to defraud MaineCare by billing for personal care services that were never rendered," said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "Every fraudulent Medicaid claim diverts resources from vulnerable beneficiaries who rely on these critical services and comes at the expense of the taxpayers who fund them. Today's arrests should serve as a clear warning that HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners will identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs for personal gain as well as those who seek to obstruct our efforts to hold them accountable."

"Today's arrests have dismantled an elaborate alleged fraud ring dedicated to fleecing a system meant to help those in need. Instead of taxpayer funds paying for the care of our friends and neighbors, these six individuals are accused of fabricating services and pocketing the money to enrich themselves," said Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. "When criminals commit healthcare fraud, they're not just stealing from the government, they're stealing from each and every American taxpayer. This coordinated investigation sends a message: we will bring the full investigative force of the government to root out fraud and bring fraudsters to justice."

"Today's arrests demonstrate IRS-CI's continued commitment to rooting out benefits fraud at its source," said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. "Benefits fraud is a systemic issue across the United States perpetrated by both organized criminal elements and individual fraudsters. Benefits fraud is not a victimless crime, it impacts every single American taxpayer. It impacts those who desperately depend on the help of the federal government in their time of need, who rely on a finite pool of benefits that is depleted every time it is stolen from. This also impacts every American citizen whom, in part, funds these programs with their individual tax contributions."

"I want to recognize the sustained diligence of both our federal law enforcement partners and the Maine Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the effort to bring these cases to this point," said Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey. "Cases like these can take years to properly build and I appreciate the significant work of all involved to meaningfully confront fraud and abuse in public benefits systems. I hope today's announcement serves as an important reminder that federal and state officials are working continuously to protect public dollars for the intended beneficiaries."

If convicted of health care fraud conspiracy, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or twice the total loss due to fraudulent claims, and up to 3 years of supervised release. If convicted of obstructing a health care fraud investigation, the defendants face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. If convicted of making false statements, the defendant faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

The FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of the Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and IRS - Criminal Investigation, investigated the case with assistance from Maine's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Maine HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; DEA; Homeland Security Investigations; IRS-Criminal Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Border Patrol; Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Maine.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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