Introduction to the Scandal
A former executive of Chicago’s Loretto Hospital, located on the city’s West Side, has been charged with stealing $290 million via a COVID-19 testing scheme.
*Editor’s note: The video above is from a previous report.
Background of the Scheme
According to court documents, former Loretto Hospital CFO Anosh Ahmed was part of a group of individuals who allegedly used stolen patient data to bill about $900 million worth of fake COVID-19 tests for uninsured patients in the middle of the pandemic. The group also collected payments totaling $290 million as a result.
Previous Charges Against Ahmed
Ahmed was also one of three people indicted in November of 2024 on charges of scheming to embezzle over $15 million from Loretto Hospital. Ahmed resigned as CFO in March 2021 after the hospital’s board voted to have him terminated for his role in the hospital’s vaccine scandal where the hospital administered COVID-19 vaccine to people who were not yet eligible to receive them.
Related Incidents
SEE ALSO: Ex-CFO of Loretto Hospital and 2 colleagues charged with embezzling millions
Then-president and CEO George Miller was also suspended for two weeks after Ahmed resigned before leaving the hospital for good in 2022.
Details of the Scheme
Court documents allege from April 2021 to June 2022, Ahmed and his group of executives used laboratories they opened in Illinois and Texas to submit fake claims to the Health Resources and Services Administration for COVID-19 testing of specimens allegedly collected from patients without health insurance, knowing that the testing had never been done in the first place. Those fake claims asked for reimbursement for nearly $895 million and $293 million was actually paid toward the claims, according to an indictment.
Use of Patient Data
After leaving Loretto, Ahmed also allegedly had an executive still employed at Loretto create a spreadsheet containing personal identifiers for Loretto patients. Those identifiers included names, dates of birth, gender and address of over 150,000 patient visits between July 2014 and June 2020.
Concealment of Involvement
The indictment further alleged Ahmed used a variety of ways to conceal his involvement in the scheme, such as by having someone create a new email address with Loretto’s domain name to make it looks like Ahmed was working on behalf of Loretto and that the hospital was reporting test results to patients.
Co-Conspirators
According to the indictment, Mohamed Sirajudeen, Mahmod Sami Khan and Suhnaib Ahmad Chaundhry have also been charged.
RELATED: Loretto Hospital executive at center of vaccine controversy resigns
Sirajudeen was allegedly an associated of Ahmed who ran Chicago Polyclinic LLC, while Khan and Chaundhry worked at Anosh Inc., a company based near Houston that Ahmed formed after leaving Loretto.
anosh-ahmed-indictmentDownload
The full indictment can be found above.
Conclusion
The charges against Anosh Ahmed and his co-conspirators highlight a significant case of fraud related to COVID-19 testing. The use of stolen patient data and submission of fake claims for reimbursement demonstrate a complex scheme designed to exploit the pandemic for financial gain. The outcome of this case will be closely watched as it sets a precedent for how such crimes are prosecuted.
FAQs
Q: What is Anosh Ahmed accused of?
A: Anosh Ahmed, the former CFO of Loretto Hospital, is accused of stealing $290 million via a COVID-19 testing scheme.
Q: How did the scheme work?
A: The scheme involved using stolen patient data to bill for fake COVID-19 tests for uninsured patients, with the group collecting payments totaling $290 million.
Q: Who else is charged in the scheme?
A: Mohamed Sirajudeen, Mahmod Sami Khan, and Suhnaib Ahmad Chaundhry have also been charged in connection with the scheme.
Q: What is the significance of this case?
A: This case highlights a significant example of fraud related to COVID-19 testing and will set a precedent for how such crimes are prosecuted.
