Other LanguagesOLYMPIA – In a case involving multiple jurisdictions, tracking the accused to Nigeria and Texas and back to Washington, a man charged with committing roughly $100,000 in Medicaid fraud finally pled guilty to 10 counts of First Degree Theft in Thurston County Superior Court today.
Nnanna Mba, formerly of Puyallup, was sentenced as a first-time offender pursuant to a stipulated plea agreement. He received a sentence of 90 days in jail with credit for time served and agreed to pay full restitution in the amount of $106,730.
Mba operated Pacesetters Medical Equipment. In April, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) charged him with 17 counts of theft for billing Medicaid $106,730 for medical supplies that were never given to beneficiaries.
When Mba failed to appear in court for his arraignment, the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) obtained a warrant for his arrest.
At the time, sources told Assistant Attorney General Dannette Allen that Mba had fled to his home country of Nigeria. Acting on that information, MFCU coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security to check his travel history. They learned that Mba had indeed left the U.S. for Nigeria. The Attorney General’s Office coordinated with federal authorities to make sure that he would be apprehended and extradited if he tried to return.
When he returned on Dec. 1, federal and state authorities were ready. Mba apprehended by US Customs and Border Patrol at Houston International Airport and delivered to local police.
Mba was extradited from Texas to Washington by the Thurston County Sherriff’s Office and arraigned on Dec. 13, 2012 in Thurston County Superior Court.
-30-
Contact: Janelle Guthrie, Communications Director, (360) 586-0725