Charges Filed Against Minnesota Businessman in Medicaid Fraud Case
A man who was previously honored with the Outstanding Refugee Award for Entrepreneurship by the Minnesota Department of Human Services is now in legal trouble over a Medicaid fraud case linked to a sex trafficking ring.
On Monday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the indictment of Salman Ahmed Elmi, a Somali immigrant, in Ramsey County District Court. He faces eight felony charges, including three counts of aiding and abetting theft by fraud and five counts for aiding and abetting theft by false representation.
The criminal complaint alleges that Elmi’s company, Reva Health, billed Medicaid improperly for over $1 million, charging for services that were either unauthorized or simply not provided at all, starting in 2023.
Investigations by state authorities, along with related court documents, suggest that Elmi and his associates are connected to several other organizations, such as Reva Autism, Helpful Housing, and Homefelt Assisted Living, that collectively submitted millions in fraudulent claims to various state and federal programs.
Among those involved in the scheme are Frank Reeves, who was arrested recently for operating a sex trafficking ring in Hennepin County, along with Victoria Komonash and former Anoka County Prosecutor Andrea Sampson.
The allegations indicate that the operation specifically targeted vulnerable young women facing addiction and homelessness, using forged documents to rent apartments in the victims’ names and coercing them into sex work.
Investigation reports reveal that personal information from the victims was stolen to file millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicaid claims through entities related to Elmi, including Reva Health.
Authorities have pointed out that the criminal activities could extend far beyond the current charges. Prosecutors have claimed that Elmi leveraged his partial ownership in Tavolo, a Minneapolis startup that gained investment from Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank in 2024, to secure initial funds for Reva Health.
It’s worth noting that Elmi received the Outstanding Refugee Award in 2021, highlighting his earlier recognition before these serious accusations emerged.
Ellison stressed that these charges serve as a stark reminder that those who deceive Minnesotans will face consequences. He expressed his outrage about the impact of Medicaid fraud on healthcare access for low-income residents.
“Medicaid fraud steals money that could be used to provide health care to our low-income friends and neighbors,” said Ellison. “This is illegal, and it makes my blood boil. That’s why I’m bringing these charges, and why I’ve built a strong track record of holding fraudsters accountable. My team and I have closed more than 340 cases of Medicaid fraud to date, winning an average of one fraud conviction every eight days since I took office. These charges are another warning to those who think they can deceive Minnesotans.”
Since Governor Tim Walz took office in 2019, his administration has faced scrutiny due to a broader fraud scheme that has affected numerous state agencies, with potential losses estimated to exceed $9 billion, particularly involving individuals from the state’s Somali community.
