Kaamil Omar Sallah, a recently returned international fugitive accused of Medicaid fraud, was released from custody this morning, following a court hearing at the federal courthouse in downtown Minneapolis.
Your correspondent was there. Sallah has been indicted on four counts of wire fraud, accused of stealing more than $1 million from the now-shuttered Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) Medicaid program.
He returned from abroad last week to face federal felony charges that were originally filed back in December. His whereabouts for the past year or so appear to be some sort of state secret. He was taken into custody at the airport upon his voluntary return.
This morning, federal prosecutors did not request his continued detention. He was ordered released on conditions, without having to post any bail (zero, $0) money,
The conditions include “home detention” and GPS tracking. He is not under “house arrest.” The court order includes eight (8) exceptions to home detention (work, medical appointments, religious services, etc.), so he’s pretty much free to roam the countryside at will.
No dates have been set for any further court proceedings. At this point, we’re all just hoping that Mr. Sallah doesn’t experience another episode of wanderlust.
As the man once sang,
I’m leaving on a jet plane
Don’t know when I’ll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go