Minnesota decide overturns $7.2M taxpayer fraud conviction regardless of jury verdict

A decide in Minnesota is dealing with warmth after she overturned a responsible verdict for a person convicted in a $7.2 million fraud scheme that concerned taxpayer cash.

Abdifatah Yusuf and his spouse Lul Ahmed have been charged in June 2024 after they have been accused of stealing $7.2 million from the state’s Medicaid program whereas working a house healthcare enterprise that lacked an workplace constructing and operated for “years out of a mailbox,” in accordance with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.

Prosecutors mentioned Yusuf acquired Medicaid cash for companies that weren’t supplied and overbilled for companies that did not have documentation. Yusuf allegedly used the cash to fund a “lavish lifestyle” that included buying sprees at “luxury clothing stores including Coach, Canada Goose, Michael Kors, Third Degree Heat, Nike, and Nordstrom.”

Yusuf directed over $1 million from the enterprise account to his private account and likewise withdrew over $387,000 in money, the lawyer common’s workplace mentioned.

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While Yusuf was discovered responsible of six counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindle (over $35,000) in August by a jury, the choice was overturned by Judge Sarah West in November, in accordance with KARE.

West wrote in her determination that the case “relied heavily on circumstantial evidence,” including that the state did not rule out different potential “reasonable inferences.”

The decide added she was, nonetheless, “troubled by the manner in which fraud was able to be perpetuated at Promise Health.”

Minnesota State Rep. Kristin Robbins mentioned she was shocked upon listening to the responsible verdict was overturned.

“I was stunned. We want to strengthen state law so that we can get prosecutions out of these cases. Because clearly a jury thought he was guilty,” Robbins mentioned.

The jury foreperson in Yusuf’s case, Ben Walfoort, mentioned the choice to convict wasn’t sophisticated and was confused by West’s determination.

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“It was not a difficult decision whatsoever. The deliberation took probably four hours at most. Based off of the state’s evidence that was presented, it was beyond a reasonable doubt,” Walfoort mentioned. “I am shocked. I’m shocked based off of all of the evidence that was presented to us and the obvious guilt that we saw based off of the said evidence.”

Another jury member informed the outlet that “we all came to an agreement pretty easily” concerning the decision.

Yusuf’s lawyer, Ian Birrell, praised West for the choice and mentioned his consumer was wrongly accused, in accordance with KARE.

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“Judge West’s ruling affirms what we have maintained from the beginning: our client Mr. Yusuf was wrongfully accused and did not commit fraud or racketeering. The Court’s decision to enter judgments of acquittal on all charges reflects the fundamental principle that justice requires both fairness and proof. We appreciate the Court’s careful attention to the evidence and the law.”

The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, led by Democrat Keith Ellison, has filed an attraction of West’s determination to overturn Yusuf’s verdict.

Minnesota has grappled with fraud issues, together with the Feeding Our Future scheme, which concerned a whole lot of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in embezzled COVID-19 funds. The alleged fraud stems from Minnesota’s Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services program, Feeding Our Future and different organizations.

President Donald Trump on Nov. 21 terminated deportation protections for Somalis in Minnesota, claiming that “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing.”

His determination got here after a report from the Manhattan Institute, a conservative assume tank, alleged that thousands and thousands of {dollars} have been being funneled to Al-Shabaab, a Somali terror group, associated to the Feeding Our Future rip-off.

Fox News Digital reached out to a consultant for West and Yusuf’s lawyer for remark.

Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.