Minnesota Somali fraudster pleads guilty to stealing $2.2 MILLION, avoids jail time in plea deal

A Minnesota Somali man accused of being involved in an $11 million Medicaid fraud scheme has pleaded guilty to charges in exchange for a sweetheart plea deal offered by Democrat Attorney General Keith Ellison's office.

Said Awil Ibrahim pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing $2.2 million from the state during the fraudulent Medicaid operation, in which he paid himself over half a million dollars of stolen taxpayer funds. As part of the plea agreement, Ibrahim will receive five years of supervised probation, a stayed 150-day jail sentence, and will return the stolen $2.2 million to the state through a payment plan that will be determined at sentencing.

Additionally, Ibrahim has agreed to help authorities track down the alleged mastermind of the operation, Abdirashid Ismail Said, a fugitive co-defendant who was released from custody despite officials' pleas stating that he was a flight risk, per the conditions of the plea agreement.

Federal and state investigators have dubbed the Minnesota Medicaid fraud scandal as one of the largest thefts of taxpayer funds in state history. The scheme, carried out predominantly by the Minnesota Somali community, involved stealing Medicaid funds during the COVID-19 pandemic through filing false claims and paying themselves.

Prosecutors argue that Ibrahim over-reported staffing levels at his care center in order to receive more money from the state, which he pocketed. The racketeering charge and two additional theft charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

Abdirashid Ismail Said has been on the run since April, when he failed to show at his mandated court appearance after being released by Hennepin County District Court Judge Juan Hoyos on $150,000 bond. Ibrahim will now have to assist authorities in finding him.

"Given the nature and severity of the charges, and SAID's familial ties outside the jurisdiction of Minnesota, I believe there is a potential SAID may flee, hide, or otherwise prevent the execution of the warrant," a police detective wrote in Said's criminal complaint at the time, arguing against his release. Authorities believe Said may have fled to Kenya, where his wife and child live.

Ibrahim will serve no additional jail time if he complies with probation and the payment plan.