Minnesota immigrant who was once received 'outstanding refugee' award is charged with Medicaid fraud

An immigrant in Minnesota, who the state once honored with an "outstanding refugee" award, has been charged with Medicaid fraud. 

Salman Ahmed Elmi is facing three counts of aiding and abetting by swindle and five counts of aiding and abetting by false representation stemming from an alleged scam to bill Medicaid for over $1 million in fraudulent services, Fox News reported. 

In 2021, the Minnesota Department of Human Services granted Elmi an award for being an "outstanding refugee," along with an Entrepreneurship Award. 

The charges also allege that two members involved in the fraud scheme were tied to a sex-trafficking ring. 

"I started a business to help inspire other people. No one owns businesses in my family; my entire family came here with the idea that the American dream was just getting a job and making it work, so shifting that mindset was difficult but important," Elmi said in an archived post on the Minnesota DHS website.

A Minnesota DHS spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News that Elmi's actions don't reflect the goal of the Outstanding Refugee Awards. 

"They also do not represent Minnesota’s refugee community. We are surrounded by neighbors, coworkers, employees and friends with powerful stories of resilience in the face of difficult circumstances, who are showing leadership in small as well as large ways to improve their communities," the spokesperson said.