Diaspora News of Tuesday, 25 May 2010

Source: startribune.com

"Burger" faces more charges in Medicaid case

A Brooklyn Park man who admitted to cheating Medicaid through his home health care business now faces additional charges of lying to federal investigators in an effort to hide more than $60,000 in assets from authorities.

Patrick D. Osei, 50, was charged Friday in federal court in Minneapolis with two counts of making false statements to investigators.

On April 21, Osei pleaded guilty to paying kickbacks to lure referrals to his home health care business in a scheme that cost Medicaid between $200,000 and $400,000.

As part of the plea deal, Osei met the next week with investigators to identify all assets and make restitution for the losses to the Medicaid program.

However, authorities allege, Osei contended that he had mailed a cashier's check for $63,000 to an attorney in Ghana as part of an adoption process, but he knew that money had not been sent to the African nation.

Osei was charged by information in the latest case, which often means a plea agreement is anticipated. He awaits sentencing in the initial fraud case.