A Chicago-based company co-owner is being accused of defrauding the United States government of money by using a fraudulent COVID-19 test scheme.
ABC News reports Zishan alvi, a 44 year-old co-owner at Laboratory Elite, had fraudulently planned for reimbursements for providing PCR test results and 15-minute rapid Antigen tests. After lying about the results, he also intended to get reimbursed.
The Health Resources and Services Administration covered the costs of COVID-19 testing, for those who did not have health insurance.
According to the indictment, the tests were either not conducted, performed in such a manner that results were uncertain, or paid for by customers before the company applied federal reimbursement.
The company received federal funding of over $83 Million between February 2021 & February 2022. Some of this money was allegedly transferred to Alvi’s personal account.
Alvi is accused in using the money to buy vehicles, stocks, and crypto.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s, the indictment calls for forfeiture of the defendant of at most $6.8million in alleged illgotten gains, as well as five luxury vehicles and funds out other trade and investment account…
