A Pakistani Man Arrested in Serbia Over US Fraud Allegations
A Pakistani man, suspected of defrauding the U.S. government out of nearly $290 million, has been apprehended in Serbia.
Anosh Ahmed arrived in the United States at the age of 13 after his family was granted refugee status. He’s facing accusations of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme related to coronavirus testing that purportedly stole vast sums from U.S. taxpayers.
Dr. Ahmed, who was indicted in 2024, fled the country following his arrest, first going to the United Arab Emirates, then to other locations before finally reaching Serbia, where he was arrested for extradition back to the United States.
He was detained recently, with the U.S. government requesting his extradition, as reported by a Chicago news outlet.
During his time in Serbia, Ahmed attempted to persuade authorities to let him stay in a local hotel instead of being detained, but this request was denied. He remains in custody pending his extradition.
Aside from the coronavirus fraud, he’s also implicated in an alleged embezzlement scheme that involved diverting $15 million while he served as CFO at Loretto Hospital in Chicago.
According to the indictment, Ahmed and his alleged accomplices, Heather Bergdahl and Samir Suhail, set up fake accounts using the names of legitimate vendors, falsely billed hospitals, and funneled money into these fraudulent accounts. Hospitals ended up depositing up to $15 million for services that weren’t rendered, resulting in multiple charges against the trio, including embezzlement and money laundering.
Reports indicate that Ahmed had joined Loretto Hospital in 2021, later relocating to Texas, where he inexplicably became a millionaire real estate investor.
In 2023, he fled to Dubai amid a series of indictments tied to COVID-19 fraud.
Federal authorities are now attempting to seize Ahmed’s assets, totaling $50.5 million in bank accounts and $42.3 million in securities and other gains. They’ve also confiscated luxury vehicles, including multiple Rolls-Royces and a Lamborghini, along with several properties in Houston.
Ahmed claims to oversee $1.5 billion in assets through a company named Anosh Ahmed Private Family Office, purportedly operating out of several international locations, including Dubai, London, and the U.S.
His arrest coincides with a broader crackdown on immigrants from various regions engaging in fraudulent schemes that fleece U.S. taxpayers, particularly involving programs like Medicaid and Medicare. This has resulted in significant financial losses in states such as California and Minnesota.
