Roundup Nets 15 Defendants in a Home Healthcare Fraud Scheme

St. Louis – Fifteen area residents were indicted yesterday in eight cases alleging health care fraud by “caregivers” and “home health care clients” purportedly receiving home health care.  In each of the cases, the workers and patients are alleged to have sought payment for services from the Missouri Medicaid Program for services not actually rendered.  In 14 of the 15 cases, the provision of services at the St. Louis area residences of the clients was an impossibility because either the caregiver and/or the home health care clients were travelling abroad during the times the services were purportedly rendered in the Eastern District of Missouri. 

Ghufran Abdallah Jaber, 51, is charged with healthcare fraud;

Hend Msallati, 33, is charged with making false statements;

Fatemeh Akbari, 73, is charged with conspiracy, healthcare fraud and making false statements;

Pegdah Heidari, 27, is charged with conspiracy, healthcare fraud and making false statements;

Ghufran Jaber, 51, is charged with conspiracy, healthcare fraud and making false statements;

Haider Albab, 75, is charged with conspiracy, healthcare fraud and making false statements;

Nouria Habeb, 67, is charged with conspiracy, healthcare fraud and making false statements;

Hala Alalewi, 38, is charged with conspiracy, healthcare fraud and making false statements;

Huda Mohammedjamil, 53, is charged with conspiracy, healthcare fraud and making false statements;

Dena Ahmed, 30, is charged with conspiracy, healthcare fraud and making false statements;

Tony Iyar, 57, is charged with healthcare fraud and making false statements;

Asal Yousif, 53, is charged with healthcare fraud and making false statements;

Kian Abdollah, 52, is charged with conspiracy, healthcare fraud and making false statements;

Mohammed Abdollah, 78, is charged with conspiracy, healthcare fraud and making false statements; and

Dalia Ahmed, 27, is charged with conspiracy, healthcare fraud and making false statements.

"Home health care allows loved ones to stay at home while they receive critical assistance," said Special Agent in Charge Richard Quinn of the FBI St. Louis Division. "When people defraud the program, money is diverted from folks who really need the services."

Steve Hanson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Kansas City Region, state, "Our office will continue to pursue those who submit false claims to our programs and hold them accountable.  Unscrupulous behavior like this drives up healthcare costs for everyone."

The charges in the Indictment are only accusations and all the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Office of Investigations; and the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General.

AUSA Tracy Berry is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.