Anosh Ahmed, a former high-ranking executive at Loretto Hospital in Chicago, has been arrested in Serbia for his alleged role in a massive COVID-19 fraud scheme. This fraud is reportedly one of the largest of its kind in U.S. history, with claims exceeding $800 million. His arrest in Belgrade on November 30, 2025, came nearly two years after federal authorities first charged him.
Ahmed escaped the U.S. shortly after facing accusations and has been in custody in Serbia while U.S. officials prepare for his extradition. The federal government learned of Ahmed’s arrest quickly and wasted no time in submitting a formal extradition request to Serbian authorities. As of January 23, 2026, that package has been processed, but the timeline for his trial remains uncertain.
Details surrounding the allegations against Ahmed paint a troubling picture. According to court documents, he and his associates are accused of creating a detailed scheme that involved submitting false claims to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration for COVID-19 testing reimbursement. The fraudulent activity is believed to have occurred between June 2021 and March 2022, during a time when many were struggling with the health crisis. The severity of the accusations escalates considering the scheme supposedly involved accessing personal data of over 150,000 individuals, claiming reimbursement for tests that were never conducted.
The fallout from this scandal extends beyond mere financial fraud. In the early days of the pandemic, when vaccines became available, Ahmed and other hospital executives came under fire for holding vaccination events at prestigious locations, such as luxury watch dealers and Trump Tower. This stands in stark contrast to the hospital’s mission as a safety-net provider, heightening public scrutiny of their actions during a public health emergency.
As of now, Ahmed’s trial is set for July 2026, although his attorney has filed a request to defer the date to September. This request adds another layer of complexity to an already convoluted situation. The implications of his case reach far beyond Ahmed himself, as it raises critical questions about accountability in the healthcare system during a time of crisis.
The ongoing events surrounding Ahmed’s arrest and potential extradition will be closely monitored, not just due to the scale of the fraud but also for the broader concern over how healthcare providers may exploit crises for personal gain. The spotlight on Loretto Hospital and Ahmed’s actions challenges the integrity of healthcare systems already under extreme pressure.
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