American fugitive arrested in Canada on Wednesday
January 3, 2013
An American fugitive who was convicted of a $1-million fraud scheme in California was found in Canada on Wednesday and was apprehended. According to NBC News, Leonard Nwafor was arrested on an extradition warrant at his home in Toronto. In December, the U.S. Marshals Service asked Toronto officials if they would help them find Nwafor. The warrant was issued last month, and they were quick to find him.
Nwafor was convicted on two counts of fraud relating to health care after he submitted false claims to Medicare through his company based in Los Angeles in 2008. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that most of the claims were for power wheelchairs, which can cost up to $7,000 each, and they were not required by patients, according to the news source.
It is believed that he made more than $1.1 million in his claims to Medicare and received more than $500,000 in payments. After he was convicted, he fled. He then was charged with absentia to nine years in prison and has to pay more than $500,000 in restitutions and $25,00 in various fines. Nwafor also was ordered to hand over the $500,000 that he stole from the government, the media outlet reports.
Since he fled, he was believed to be residing in Canada. He was certainly a wanted man, Nwafor was also wanted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. They have placed him in the top 10 most-wanted fugitives, according to the publication.
Those who want to talk about the recent arrest can make calls to Canada using international calling cards.