MINNEAPOLIS — Kaamil Omar Sallah was arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on the evening of September 10, 2026. He is charged with four counts of wire fraud for participating in a scheme to fraudulently receive Medicaid benefits from Minnesota’s Housing Stability Services Program.

Sallah owned and operated SafeLodgings, Inc., which he registered in March 2023. That same month, he submitted paperwork to enroll the company as a provider for the state program, which is designed to help people with disabilities and addictions find and maintain housing. From approximately March 2023 through August 2025, Sallah and his company fraudulently claimed entitlement to approximately $1.4 million for providing services.

During that period, they received nearly $1.3 million. The indictment alleges Sallah knowingly submitted fake and inflated bills. In 2024, he claimed to have personally provided more than 3,600 billable service hours of reimbursable services.

A grand jury indicted Sallah on December 16, 2025. On or about November 26, 2025, he flew from MSP Airport to Amsterdam. His return to Minnesota was coordinated by the Federal Defenders Office after he reported that he wanted to self-surrender. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon G. Elkins on September 11, 2026.

United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen said Sallah would now face justice for his role in defrauding Minnesotans and the American people. "I commend the work of our law enforcement partners in coordinating the safe transfer of the defendant back to Minnesota," Rosen said.

FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson said the agency was dedicated to rooting out fraud in vital community services programs. "As alleged in the indictment, Kaamil Sallah defrauded Medicaid for approximately $1.3 million," Dotson said. "When he learned he was under investigation, he chose to flee."

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Steven R. Forrest are prosecuting the case. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.

Why It Matters

The case shows allegations of significant fraud within a state program designed to assist vulnerable populations with housing stability. The indictment asserts that funds intended for people with disabilities and addictions were diverted through fraudulent billing practices over a multi-year period.

Timeline

March 2023: Kaamil Omar Sallah registers SafeLodgings, Inc. and submits paperwork to enroll as a provider for Minnesota’s Housing Stability Services Program.

March 2023 – August 2025: Sallah and his company allegedly claim entitlement to approximately $1.4 million and receive nearly $1.3 million through fraudulent billing, including claims for more than 3,600 billable service hours in 2024 alone. November 26, 2025: Sallah flies from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Amsterdam. December 16, 2025: A grand jury indicts Sallah on four counts of wire fraud. September 10, 2026: Sallah is arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after returning to Minnesota to self-surrender.

September 11, 2026: Sallah makes his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon G. Elkins.

What's New

Kaamil Omar Sallah was arrested on September 10, 2026, at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. This arrest follows his indictment in December 2025 and his flight to Amsterdam in November 2025. His return was coordinated by the Federal Defenders Office after he indicated a desire to self-surrender. He appeared in court on September 11, 2026, facing four counts of wire fraud related to the alleged misappropriation of nearly $1.3 million from Minnesota’s Housing Stability Services Program.