'Pastor' Michael Salman Guilty of Felonies in Health Care Fraud Case

"Pastor" Michael Salman Guilty of Felonies in Health Care Fraud Case

By Matthew Hendley Tue., Feb. 5 2013 at 7:00 AM

wn.com

"Pastor" Michael Salman, wearing a fact on his shirt.

Former gang member/"Pastor" Michael Salman -- who falsely cried persecution to any media outlet that would buy his story last year -- is once again a convicted felon.

Salman pleaded guilty to felony theft and felony forgery last week, as Salman, his wife, and his brother admitted to defrauding AHCCCS, the state's Medicaid program, of more than $118,000.

See also:
-"Pastor" Michael Salman Indicted for AHCCCS Fraud
-Michael Salman wants to build a church in his backyard
-Michael Salman is not in jail for having Bible studies in his home
-Michael Salman claims his "right to hold Bible studies in jail" was violated
-Joe Arpaio and Michael Salman keep inmates bored to death at Tent City

New Times has been writing about Salman fairly extensively since 2008, as Salman's urge to build a church in his backyard drew the ire of his neighbors. Last year, his story went national, as he cried "religious persecution" to many media outlets, and a lot of them bought it, including Fox News.

Since we spent a few minutes looking into Salman and what he was actually doing -- breaking the law -- we called bullshit, and others followed suit. Some still weren't convinced that Salman was scammin', until he was indicted by a grand jury in the AHCCCS fraud case.

According to Attorney General Tom Horne, Salman lied about his household income on applications for AHCCCS benefits, and lied in a statement to the state Department of Economic Security. Salman's wife Suzanne Salman, and his brother Frank Salman, were also accused of lying on applications.

Due to those alleged lies, AHCCCS paid out $73,000 for medical coverage for Salman, his wife, and his children. AHCCCS paid out $45,000 for Frank Salman and his children.

If you wonder how needy Michael Salman and his family were, then get a load of this -- Horne's office says today that Michael and Suzanne Salman paid back the $73,808.92 they had scammed out of AHCCCS. That probably means the Salmans weren't even close to qualifying for AHCCCS, if they just happened to have 73-grand sitting around.

Michael Salman was sentenced to three years of probation for this felony. Salman served nearly six years in prison for a drive-by shooting he carried out in the summer of 1992. He was also caught with LSD while serving this sentence.

More recently, Salman served a couple months in Tent City after being found guilty of 67 misdemeanors related to an illegal building he constructed in his backyard and his unwillingness to comply with the City of Phoenix's zoning rules.

Tags:

ahcccs, arizona, bible, church, city, code, compliance, home, jesus, michael salman, phoenix, religious freedom, tom horne, worship

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errolmcinnes

Hi Michael,

I took the liberty of notifying Harvest Christian Fellowship in California of your intent to use their intellectual property without notifying them, or sharing in the proceeds. I'm sure that since they are a fundamental church that they won't mind at all the fact that you are good with using their name for your ministry. All you churches are like that, aren't you? all cooperative, and would never think about suing each other out of existence? Anyhow, Harvest Christian Fellowship in California has all the information about you and your wife and brother that they need to really help your ministry along. Perhaps they will want to offer gracious financial support to your cause. Or perhaps they will want to sue you out of existence. Anyhow, God Bless each and ever one of you people, and hopefully you can call Jesus to witness for you in civil court. After all, you have put a lot of work into witnessing for him; im sure he is quite willing to return the favor.

Rock on Phoenix New Times!

errolmcinnes

Come on Michael, Let's get to praying.

errolmcinnes

Indeed the total take was over 120 grand. The salmans have proven over and over again that they are going to simply hide behind the word of god, screw the law. The restitution was made so quickly because they gutted Althean church for the funds. That's how they roll. He didn't possess enough power at Althean that he had to break off to create his own cult, and it very nearly worked. He is a consummate liar, and his wife is a consummate liar. It scares me that his children are being raised with the values of ripping off humanity because god said it is ok to do so. His methodology is just the same as L Ron Hubbard, and it is working. He preaches a new doctrine that excludes Jesus Christ as the messiah and he is carefully edging himself in as the new messiah, and the new and improved Son Of God. the dude is dangerous, he has plenty of followers, he has snuggled in close to Joe Arpaio to launch a new Jail recruitment campaign, and he will sure enough be lying to the county commission to obtain new permits for "a game room" addition to whatever property he obtains. He preaches dangerous messages, and his sheeple are quick to back him. New World Order thug religion.

WhoKnows topcommenter

2 Like

I read in another story that the brother also paid off the $45k, so total these to had in available cash was about $120k. I hope the IRS now finds out how they got that money.

4azbill

2 Like

previously convicted of a drive-by shooting you say? now carries out healthcare drive-by against the citizens of arizona and gets to pay back some of the money and gets only 3 years probation with no jail time you say? the arizona justice system has failed us again.

errolmcinnes

@4azbill He didn't pay back some of the money, he paid all of it back. He and his brother were able to come up with 120,000 dollars within minutes of hammering out the plea deal. Funny how somebody who can claim to have zero or less assets to get welfare can then come up with 120 grand in minutes. perhaps Gawd loaned him some cash for no interest.

eric.nelson745 topcommenter

2 Like

Michael Salman should be made to wear that tee as long as he's "on paper."

Tommy_Collins

3 Like

Three years probation on a felony for a convicted felon who perpertrated a criminal episode involving many of his family members, as well as himself, all the while as he presented himself as a "man of god"?

Seriously?

I would love to see the presentence probation recommendation.

Surely someone must have dropped the ball on this one.