A Fridley couple is facing felony charges of wrongfully obtaining public assistance after investigators discovered the couple had deposited over $1 million into their bank accounts during the same time period they received assistance.
According to felony charges filed in Anoka County against Amino Abdullahi Mohamed and Liban Beddel Mohamud, both 47, the couple was not entitled to collect nearly $25,000 in medical-assistance benefits they received between August 2015 to June 2018.
The court filing states that the pair, who are married and have seven children, reported on their application for assistance yearly incomes between $30,000 and $60,000 for each of the three years they collected public-assistance benefits.
During an investigation that began in March 2018, a deputy discovered that Liban had been the owner of Samad Home Healthcare, LLC, since 2006. In 2016, Liban received a W2 from the business indicating income of $105,023.18. Neither Liban nor Amino reported information about the business or the income when applying for assistance, the complaint states.
IRS tax filings obtained by an investigator showed that the couple reported an income of $266,850 in 2015 on their joint filing. The couple did not file taxes in 2017 or 2018.
The investigation revealed that the Mohameds have two joint bank accounts where they made deposits of $312,586.51 in 2015, $706,880.24 in 2016 and $361,337.08 in 2017, during the years they collected public assistance, the complaint states.
An investigator also discovered that in February 2017, the Mohameds paid the mortgage on their $179,500 home in full.
Liban moved to Kenya in October 2017 to find work and continued to contribute to the household by sending money to Amino. From November 2017 to February 2018, over $14,400 was deposited into Amino’s bank account. However, Amino reported that Liban did not work and did not report the money he gave her as income on her application for public assistance. At the time the investigation began in March 2018, Liban reported that there had been no marital breakdown, and although he lived overseas, he was a member of the household. Any income Liban received was joint and should have been considered income for purposes of receiving public assistance, the complaint says.
The two separate cases charging each with one count of wrongfully obtaining assistance in the amount of $24,709.75 were filed over a year ago but were initially delayed in court due to the pandemic and other proceedings. The couple made court appearances last week in Anoka County and completed the booking process. Court records show privately retained attorneys for each.
Both remain free on conditions with no bail required. Both parties are scheduled to make their next court appearances on July 20.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
