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Hundreds charged in $14.6 billion health care fraud schemes, DOJ says | AP
News
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

Updated 12:27 PM PDT, June 30, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) - State and federal prosecutors have charged more than 320 people and uncovered nearly $15 billion in false claims in what they
described Monday as the largest coordinated takedown of health care fraud schemes in Justice Department history.

Law enforcement seized more than $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, cryptocurrency, and other assets as prosecutors warned of a growing push
by transnational criminal networks to exploit the U.S. health care system.
As part of the sweeping crackdown, officials identified perpetrators based
in Russia, Eastern Europe, Pakistan, and other countries.

"These criminals didn't just steal someone else's money. They stole from
you," Matthew Galeotti, who leads the Justice Department's criminal
division, told reporters Monday. "Every fraudulent claim, every fake
billing, every kickback scheme represents money taken directly from the
pockets of American taxpayers who fund these essential programs through
their hard work and sacrifice."

The alleged $14.6 billion in fraud is more than twice the previous record
in the Justice Department's annual health care fraud crackdown. It
includes nearly 190 federal cases and more than 90 state cases that have
been charged or unsealed since June 9. Nearly 100 licensed medical professionals were charged, including 25 doctors, and the government
reported $2.9 billion in actual losses.

Among the cases is a $10 billion urinary catheter scheme that authorities
say highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods used by
transnational criminal organizations. Authorities say the group behind the scheme used foreign straw owners to secretly buy up dozens of medical
supply companies and then used stolen identities and confidential health
data to file fake Medicare claims.

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports more than 300 people charged in a
$14.6 billion health care fraud schemes takedown.

Nineteen defendants have been charged as part of that investigation -
which authorities dubbed Operation Gold Rush - including four people
arrested in Estonia and seven people arrested at U.S. airports and at the border with Mexico, prosecutors said. The scheme involved the stolen
identities and personal information of more one million Americans,
according to the Justice Department.

"It's not done by small time operators," said Dr. Mehmet Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "These are organized
syndicates who are designing to hurt America."

_

This story has been updated to show the Justice Department alleges the
scheme resulted in nearly $15 billion in false claims.
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