The business owners of Angel Touch Personal Care are under investigation for Medicaid fraud. The attorney general’s office has been looking into Mina Sharifi and her partner Ali Reza Kazimi since 2014.
The lead investigator believes Sharifi and Kazimi billed Medicaid for at-home caregiving even after their patients died. They are also accused of making money billing Medicaid for people who don’t even need personal care.
Investigators also found billing for people in hospice care at the hospital and billing based on social security numbers that weren’t real.
According to court documents, massive money was racked up billing Medicaid for employees taking care of their own spouses. That amounted to more than $200,000 dollars in just one case.
The investigation also revealed that eight of the employees at Angel Touch are convicted criminals. Those convictions were for child abuse, fraud, kidnapping, and aggravated assault.
KOB 4 found the home Sharifi owns in Albuquerque. It’s a mansion in the northwest part of town. Neighbors say it’s more than 10,000 square feet. According to Bernalillo County property tax records, it’s worth at least $1.6 million.
The couple is not in custody. It’s unclear if criminal charges are coming soon. The attorney general’s office has requested any Medicaid payments to Angel Care to stop immediately.