Saturday, September 26, 2009
Ahmed Igge was charged Sept. 18 with ten counts of theft by swindle, but he was no where to be found. Police finally picked him up Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
Minneapolis Police said Ahmed Igge took money meant for the company and wrote checks to himself.
"He has no conscience to be able to do that, knowing that he's depriving people for his own pocket.," said Lt. Brad Sporny of the Minneapolis Police Department.
Lt. Sporny said Igge started a bogus company called Universal Health Care, similar to the legitimate Universal Home Health Care which he was the CEO.
When insurance providers like Health Partners, Medica, U Care and Blue Plus wrote checks for their patients' care, investigators said he cashed them.
"He admitted it, felt he was owed the money in some ways and he was going to take what he had coming to him," said Lt. Sporny.
Investigators discovered the theft after an internal audit. They said from 2006 to 2007 checks for as much as $8,600 started adding up.
"Their reinvestment because of their lack of funds limits their ability to help others who are in financial trouble or medical trouble. This means that $176,000 cannot be reinvested into the community as they I think hoped it could be," said Lt. Sporny.
Lt. Sporny said the employees Igge was once in charge of are thankful he's now charged.
"They want to make sure somebody pays for what they are doing and they don't get away scott free," he said.
Lt. Sporny said a crime like this is particularly frustrating now as the nation debates the future of health care.
He also made it clear