Leyda Ada trial starts today in $1.7M health care fraud case

The jury trial of Leyda I. Ada, who is accused of conspiring with her husband to perpetrate a health care fraud exceeding $1.7 million., is expected to start today in federal court.

Attorney Mark B. Hanson is court-appointed counsel for Ada. Assistant U.S. attorney Garth R. Backe is prosecuting the case.

Hanson and Backe both agreed that the case is unusual and complex, given the nature and breadth of the allegations against Ada, its underlying facts, and the extensive documentation.

On Thursday, Hanson filed a motion for a court order prohibiting the U.S. government from publishing exhibits and references to other evidence in its opening argument.

Hanson said the U.S. government indicated in its amended trial brief filed last Monday that it intends to introduce a variety of trial exhibits in a PowerPoint presentation during its opening argument.

Hanson said this is the exact action about which he warned and objected during a hearing on Wednesday.

Hanson said it is uncertain from the trial brief the extent to which the prosecution wants to publish various bank records, but what is clear is that the U.S. government wants to show the jury and argue its belief of the origins and foundation of at least one objectionable bank signature card and various forged withdrawal slips.

The second superseding indictment charged Ada with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of money laundering, five counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud, and one count of perjury.

Last April, the prosecution dismissed five counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud. This leaves only three charges: conspiracy to commit laundering, money laundering, and perjury. Ada pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The original indictment charged Ada and her husband, Melvin Ada, with 59 counts.

Melvin Ada is a former employee of the Commonwealth Health Center who pleaded guilty to 56 charges for misappropriating and diverting CNMI Treasury checks made payable to a medical supplier company totaling over $1.7 million. He is awaiting his sentencing.

Melvin Ada was previously assigned as a medical supply specialist at CHC. Leyda Ada used to be a sales representative for Midwest Medical Supply Co. Inc., a Missouri-based company that had supplied dialysis consumables and equipment to CHC.