Federal probe into serial entrepreneur couple who cashed in on COVID testing boom

A serial entrepreneur couple who cashed in on the COVID testing increase are actually on the heart of a federal probe after being accused of fraud by prospects who say they by no means obtained outcomes or obtained detrimental check outcomes through e mail earlier than that they had even taken the check. 

Longtime entrepreneurs Akbar Ali Syed, 35, and his spouse Aleya Siyaj, 29, Rolling Meadows, Illinois, have connected themselves to many trending enterprise ventures over time, together with a donut store, wedding ceremony images and axe-throwing.

Their newest enterprise, the Middle for COVID Management (CCC), is below scrutiny and being investigated by the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies, the Oregon Division of Justice and a number of state well being departments after quite a few complaints from throughout the nation, in line with reviews.

The Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies documented quite a few ‘deficiencies’ on the firm’s predominant lab, Docs Scientific Lab, which has been reimbursed greater than $124 million from the federal authorities’s COVID-19 uninsured program, in line with public knowledge obtained by USA Right now. The probe into the corporate was solely magnified by the couple’s social media posts boasting about their luxurious way of life, together with the acquisition of a Lamborghini, and a $1.36 million mansion. 

The corporate, which says it has 300 testing areas nationwide that provide free same-day speedy outcomes, said that at its peak, it collected greater than 80,000 exams per day on the pop-ups, lots of that are reportedly in sheds and storage models.

It was reported that the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies, a part of the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies, performed surveys at a number of CCC testing websites and ‘the principle laboratory’ in November and December and located ‘non-compliance’ with quite a few requirements, affecting greater than 400,000 exams. 

All through the pandemic, there was a battle in the US to seek out fast, straightforward and correct testing. 

So when the couple noticed a marketplace for a brand new enterprise, Siyaj, who’s referred to by the corporate because the ‘CEO and founder,’ registered the enterprise, the Middle for COVID Management, in December 2020.  

‘CCC was based to satisfy a vital market want to ascertain testing facilities the place COVID exams could possibly be offered to sufferers quickly and safely to reduce delay, and let folks get on with their every day actions,’ Siyaj mentioned in an announcement posted on the firm’s web site on Thursday.    

However by the top of 2021, the corporate started to expertise hassle when the Omicron variant brought about a surge in instances, in line with USA Right now. As testing elevated, the CCC reportedly turned overwhelmed, revealing cracks within the firm’s system.  

Pissed off customers took to social media, Google and the Higher Enterprise Bureau to complain about their expertise with the corporate’s ‘sketchy’ testing websites, lots of that are pop-ups in sheds, storage models and empty retailer fronts.   

There have been complaints that some folks had obtained detrimental check outcomes through e mail earlier than even taking their exams. 

Others complained of delayed outcomes or no outcomes in any respect, calling the corporate, which has the Higher Enterprise Bureau‘s lowest buyer evaluation score, a ‘rip-off.’  

‘There have been a TON of crimson flags that this firm was an information mining rip-off that could be a hazard to public well being,’ an individual by the title of Scott F. posted to the BBB web site on January 2, including that the stations had been ‘not being cleaned or sanitized in between customers gathering samples from their noses.’ 

‘I’ve no confidence these pattern weren’t probably tainted by cross contamination because of soiled testing stations and haphazard assortment practices,’ he wrote. 

The complaints date again to November 2021, when somebody recognized as Josh D. posted that the entire ordeal ‘appeared very sketchy.’ 

‘I simply had a intestine feeling that one thing appeared off,’ he added. ‘It was an workplace retail area with actually solely an inexpensive desk in each room. Nothing else. It was tremendous empty in a really odd manner. It simply appeared so off.’

Earlier this month, Kelly T. posted that ‘there’s no level to get examined’ in the event that they by no means get the outcomes.  

‘To not point out the protection side that they’re doing testing inside a rented retailer entrance with plenty of folks jammed inside coughing,’ she added. 

‘When you don’t have COVID, you’ll by the point you permit. They need to be shut down earlier than somebody dies from their failure to offer outcomes. BBB please take discover.’

The BBB has posted an alert on their web site concerning the CCC that states: ‘The BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois is actively trying into this firm as they’ve lately obtained quite a few complaints each domestically and from throughout the nation. 

‘The corporate has been unresponsive to the BBB concerning the decision of those complaints. Customers allege issues with not receiving check outcomes, poor customer support, and requesting personally identifiable info (driver’s license, insurance coverage, and many others.). Customers with excellent considerations ought to nonetheless file a grievance with the BBB and the Illinois Lawyer Normal’s workplace.’

As complaints poured in, the couple continued to flaunt their lavish way of life and high-end purchases on social media. 

On Syed’s TikTok account, which was reportedly taken down on Thursday, he shared photographs and movies of luxurious vehicles. His nephew has a YouTube channel that focuses on the household’s rising automobile assortment. 

In August 2021, Syed posted a photograph of a pickup truck with the caption ‘no fingers ma!!’ And he continued submit about his extravagant purchases on the account. 

On the finish of the identical month, Syed posted a video to his TikTok account of a crimson Lamborghini Countach being unloaded from a flatbed truck. 

‘Countach added to my assortment,’ Syed wrote within the caption. He additionally included the tag, ‘#entrepreneur.’

‘Oil cash?’ a person requested.

No, Syed responded: ‘COVID cash.’ 

In November 2021, the couple turned house owners of a $1.36 million residence in St. Charles, Illinois. 

The Zillow itemizing incorporates a 3.65-acre lot on a non-public street with a gated entry, three-car storage, round entrance driveway, fountain, white pillars, iron double doorways, crystal chandeliers and a curved floating staircase. 

In December 2021, a video posted to the nephew’s YouTube channel confirmed an ‘unveiling’ of a 2018 Ford GT. An similar 2018 Ford GT was offered for $985,000 on December 3, in line with Deliver a Trailer Auctions. 

On the finish of the month, two movies had been posted to the channel displaying a Ford GT parked within the driveway of the couple’s St. Charles residence.  

On December 22, 2021, a 2003 Ferrari Enzo was auctioned off for $3.7 million to an individual in Illinois, USA Right now reported. Supercars.internet reported the sale set a world report as ‘the very best sale worth achieved on an internet automobile public sale platform’ and ‘the very best sale worth achieved for a Ferrari Enzo at an internet public sale.’

The couple has beforehand launched a number of enterprise ventures.  

In 2013, Syed began a marriage images enterprise. And his spouse has reportedly launched a minimum of six companies.

Siyaj owned the O’s Donuts & Cafe, which launched in 2017 and closed in November 2020, in line with USA Right now. 

She can be listed on LinkedIn because the proprietor of Axe Vary, an axe-throwing lounge, which closed in 2020. She reportedly lately established Aenaz, Lom Investments and Testing Options.  

And she or he is listed because the founder and chief government officer (CEO) of the Middle for COVID Management.  

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