A jury has convicted former MetroHealth Hospital System Chief Operating Officer Edward R. Hills, 58, of Aurora, Ohio, and three other men in a kickback and bribery scheme that defrauded the hospital and others of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The scheme, which lasted nearly a decade, involved Hills and his associates accepting bribes and kickbacks related to the hospital’s dental program. Hills, who worked in various capacities at MetroHealth, including as Director of MetroHealth Dental, solicited cash, checks, a $3,879 Louis Vuitton briefcase, a 55-inch television, airline flights, and use of a downtown apartment from Alqsous, Al-Madani, and others in exchange for taking official actions on their behalf.
Hills, Alqsous, 34, of Cleveland, Ohio, Yazan B. Al-Madani, 34, of Westlake, Ohio, and Tariq Sayegh, 38, of Cleveland, Ohio, were all found guilty of criminal charges following a trial that lasted several weeks. They are scheduled to be sentenced on November 27, 2023.
According to court documents, testimony, and documents presented at trial, Hills, Alqsous, and Al-Madani engaged in a racketeering conspiracy from 2008 through 2016 involving a series of elaborate bribery conspiracies, witness tampering, and other crimes.
The scheme involved Hills taking official actions on behalf of Alqsous, Al-Madani, and others, including allowing them to work at their private dental businesses during regular business hours while receiving a full-time salary from MetroHealth. Alqsous, Al-Madani, and others gave cash, checks, and other things of value to Hills beginning in 2009. Evidence included text messages and meetings, often at expensive restaurants, which resulted in cash being deposited into Hills’ bank accounts.
‘These defendants ripped off taxpayers and betrayed the community’s trust when they accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and other bribes,’ said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. ‘Their egregious, offensive behavior lasted nearly a decade and now they will be held accountable for their actions.’
The investigation revealed a complex scheme that involved corruption on a number of different levels. Corruption like this has no place in Ohio, and we applaud the work of all our law enforcement partners who investigated and prosecuted this case,’ said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
Hills, Alqsous, Al-Madani, and Sayegh are set to be sentenced on November 27, 2023. The exact sentence or outcome is not yet known.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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