[Video below.] Federal authorities are searching for a Minnesota man accused in a massive $90 million Medicaid fraud operation after he allegedly escaped FBI agents by jumping from a fourth-floor balcony and fleeing on foot Thursday morning.

Muhammad Omar, one of 15 individuals charged in connection with an alleged scheme targeting Minnesota’s Medicaid system, managed to evade capture shortly before federal officials held a press conference announcing the case.

Video captured during the incident showed Omar limping away across the property on one foot while carrying a shoe in his hand.

Authorities said the suspect was dressed in a white shirt and bright blue shorts. At one point during the escape, he appeared to stumble and fall before getting back up and disappearing into a nearby building.

Colin McDonald urged the public to assist law enforcement in locating Omar.

“I would encourage the public to help turn this man in to face justice for the fraud that he has perpetrated, and now, to face the additional charges for seeking to flee from law enforcement and seeking to obstruct justice by virtue of his conduct today,” he said.

Federal prosecutors have charged Omar with conspiracy to commit health care fraud along with four separate counts of health care fraud.

McDonald described the investigation as one of the most significant Medicaid fraud crackdowns ever brought by federal authorities.

“The bust involved the ‘highest loss amount ever charged in a Medicaid case’ as well as the ‘largest autism fraud scheme ever,’” McDonald said.

According to investigators, some of the fraudulent claims involved patients who allegedly received little or no legitimate care despite enormous sums being billed to Medicaid.

“One patient was supposed to be receiving 24-hour care … but he was actually being serviced by a fraudster and received no services,” McDonald said. “This patient was later found dead.”

Prosecutors allege the stolen taxpayer funds were funneled into luxury purchases, including upscale homes, expensive jewelry, and high-end vehicles.

McDonald warned that the broader scale of fraud affecting Minnesota’s Medicaid system could be staggering.

He suggested the overall amount of fraud impacting the state may ultimately surpass $9 billion.

{Matzav.com}