Acting AG Todd Blanche Announces 455 Defendants Charged In $6.5 Billion Health Care Fraud Crackdown
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Tuesday that federal authorities have charged 455 defendants in connection with massive health care fraud schemes that allegedly sought to steal more than $6.5 billion from taxpayer-funded programs.
“This announcement marks the greatest combined federal and state effort in combating health care fraud in history,” Blanche said during remarks at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“These individuals participated in health care fraud schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims submitted to Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care programs,” he added.
According to the Justice Department, the 455 defendants include at least 90 medical professionals accused of participating in fraudulent billing schemes targeting federal health care programs.
Authorities also seized approximately $182 million in cash and other assets from the alleged fraudsters.
Blanche highlighted one case involving an Arizona-based corporate executive accused of improperly obtaining roughly $1 billion in taxpayer funds by billing the federal government for medically unnecessary wound graft procedures.
According to prosecutors, the scheme allegedly charged the government more than $1 million per patient.
Blanche said the executive and 10 other defendants used the proceeds to purchase luxury items, including a $135,000 Maserati, an $865,000 Bulgari necklace and the construction of a $4.6 million resort in the Philippines.
“We’re taking back the money, the luxury cars, the jewelry and these alleged fraudsters will face justice,” Blanche said.
The sweeping operation marks one of the largest health care fraud enforcement actions in U.S. history and comes amid the Trump administration’s broader push to crack down on waste, fraud and abuse involving federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Federal officials have indicated that additional investigations remain ongoing and that more charges could follow as authorities continue examining alleged schemes targeting taxpayer-funded health care programs.