Noora Abd and Faysal Kalayaf Manahe of Biddeford were also charged with obstructing a health care fraud investigation

By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

Six Maine residents, including a Biddeford man and woman, were arrested Tuesday after being indicted by a federal grand jury last week for health care fraud conspiracy, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

In addition, Faysal Kalayaf Manahe and Noora Abd of Biddeford were charged with obstructing a health care fraud investigation while another was charged with making false statements.

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As alleged in the indictment, Noora Abd, a/k/a “Um Mohammed,” 37, Faysal Kalayaf Manahe, a/k/a “Abu Aziz,” 51, Adel Al Rashid, a/k/a “Abu Ayman,”  47, Sura Almohammed, a/k/a “Um Ayman,” 47, Ether Alyaseen, 46, Mohammed Alkhalaf, a/k/a “Abu Stayf,” 41, and Community Home Health Care LLC are charged with health care fraud conspiracy. 

Noora Abd and Faysal Kalayaf Manahe are also charged with obstructing a health care fraud investigation while Mohammed Alkhalaf is charged with making false statements, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to the indictment, Community Home Health Care, is a licensed personal care agency headquartered in South Portland.

Noora Abd owned and operated Community while the other defendants named in the indictment were employed by the company as personal support specialists and in other capacities.

Noora Abd allegedly billed and was paid by MaineCare for personal care services. The indictment alleges that the defendants submitted false electronic visit verifications, claiming to have performed personal care services for their clients when, in fact, these services had not been performed.

The indictment further alleges that since 2020, Community Health Care and Noora Abd have submitted numerous claims to MaineCare for personal care services purportedly provided to a single client, totaling more than $600,000.

“Health care fraud – in all its forms – costs all of us, and today’s arrests should make it clear that if you steal from our health care system for your own financial gain, you too, will be shut down and brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson. “Protecting the integrity of all our federally funded health care programs for those who really need them is paramount.

“I am grateful for the hard work of our federal and state investigative partners, and our own attorneys and staff, in this important Homeland Security Task Force investigation.”

Ted E. Dock, special agent in charge of Boston’s division, said the Biddeford couple “made matters worse by trying to obstruct [the] investigation.”

If convicted of health care fraud conspiracy, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or twice the total loss due to fraudulent claims, and up to 3 years of supervised release. 

If convicted of obstructing a health care fraud investigation, the defendants face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.  If convicted of making false statements, the defendant faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

The FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and IRS – Criminal Investigation, investigated the case with assistance from Maine’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.