Former Government Analyst Charged with Bribery
| U.S. Attorney’s Office February 24, 2014 |
HOUSTON—Augustine Ihenacho Nnadi, aka Austin, 60, of Houston, has been arrested for accepting a bribe in exchange for assistance in an ongoing health care fraud case, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
The FBI arrested Nnadi this morning shortly after officers with the Texas Attorney General’s Office confiscated his credentials and terminated his employment. Nnadi is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson at 2:00 p.m. today.
The criminal complaint, filed today, alleges Nnadi accepted more than $5,000 on February 16, 2014, from a criminal defendant in exchange for assistance on a pending health care fraud case.
He is charged with bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible $250,000 fine.
The operation was a combined, cooperative effort conducted by the FBI, the Texas Rangers, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Texas Attorney General’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James McAlister.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.