Minnesota Fraud Suspect Flees Country Before Trial

Abdirashid Said skipped town after judge granted him $150,000 bail with no travel restrictions.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:08pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled financial document lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.A harsh flash-lit close-up of evidence from a complex financial fraud case exposes the gritty realities of white-collar crime.Minneapolis Today

Abdirashid Said, a convicted Personal Care Assistant (PCA) company fraudster, has fled the country just days before his trial was set to begin. Despite warnings from prosecutors about Said's flight risk, a judge granted him $150,000 bail with no travel restrictions, allowing him to book an undetected flight out of the country.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing issues with bail reform and the challenges prosecutors face in keeping high-risk defendants from fleeing before trial, especially in complex financial crimes involving millions in taxpayer funds.

The details

Said was previously convicted in 2021 of Medicaid fraud for stealing taxpayer money while claiming to operate a PCA company out of a mailbox. After his conviction, he started receiving checks from other PCA companies, which he claimed were loans to pay back restitution. Investigators charged Said with racketeering, conspiracy to steal $11 million, and perjury as part of a larger investigation into PCA fraud. Prosecutors wanted bail set at $1 million, citing Said's family ties to Kenya, but the judge gave him the option of a $150,000 bond with no travel restrictions, which Said took.

  • Said's trial was set to begin on Monday, April 14, 2026.
  • He was convicted of Medicaid fraud in 2021.

The players

Abdirashid Said

A convicted fraudster who previously stole taxpayer money through a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) company scheme and was facing a new trial for racketeering, conspiracy, and perjury charges.

Judge Juan Hoyos

The judge who granted Said a $150,000 bail with no travel restrictions, despite warnings from prosecutors about his flight risk.

Steve Forrest

A former state prosecutor who questioned Said about receiving checks from other PCA companies after his initial fraud conviction.

Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

The investigative unit that uncovered the larger PCA fraud scheme and expressed concerns about Said's flight risk.

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What they’re saying

“Were those checks for employment for you, Mr. Said?”

— Steve Forrest, Former State Prosecutor

“No, they were for loans.”

— Abdirashid Said

What’s next

Authorities are now working to locate and extradite Abdirashid Said, who is believed to have fled to Kenya.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges prosecutors face in keeping high-risk financial crime suspects from fleeing before trial, especially when judges grant bail with lax travel restrictions despite warnings about flight risk.