Latest news with #criminalOrganization
CBS News
16 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
11 charged in major Medicare fraud bust, including Brooklyn business owner
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have now charged 11 people in one of the largest Medicare fraud busts in history, including the owner of a local business. CBS News New York first reported on the man and a slew of connected Medicare fraud complaints last year. Brooklyn business collects taxpayer dollars through alleged Medicare fraud In February 2024, CBS News New York investigative reporter Tim McNicholas went looking for the owner of G&I Ortho Supply in Gravesend. Dozens of Better Business Bureau complaints revealed G&I was collecting taxpayer dollars for catheters under the names of Medicare members who never requested them. The search led McNicholas to Staten Island, where one man said he'd recently sold the company to another man who was allegedly using a fake Texas ID. However, prosecutors said the name the buyer used was real: Kevin Valdhans. A second man — Jonathan Vaz, of Fort Lauderdale — said Valdhans also bought his company, but didn't remove him from their billing system after the sale. Vaz said at the time, he saw that Valdhans had billed about $7 million worth of catheters in just one week. Suspects received $41 million from Medicare, investigators say A federal indictment unsealed Thursday says Valdhans was part of a criminal organization based in Eastern Europe that bought more than 30 legitimate companies, then used them for Medicare fraud. Prosecutors say the group's leader was based in "Russia and elsewhere." Eight of the people charged are Estonian citizens, one is a United States citizen, and Valdhans is from the Czech Republic. The indictment accuses the group of "stealing the identities and personal identifying information of more than 1 million Americans." Investigators say the group submitted $10 billion worth of bogus Medicare claims and actually received $41 million from Medicare, plus $900 million from Medicare Supplemental Insurers. Prosecutors say the operation lasted until September. Similar fraud complaints at Queens-based business A Queens business has also been connected to Medicare fraud complaints, but that medical supply shop is not mentioned in the indictment. Some of the claims connected to that business were submitted as recently as this month. As far as we know, there is no direct connection between that business and the Russia-based organization, but it is a similar pattern in the sense that a man said he recently sold the Queens business and then started learning of fraud complaints.
Reuters
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Rwanda arrests opposition leader Ingabire, says investigative body
Rwanda has arrested prominent opposition leader Victoire Ingabire, who is being held at a detention facility in the capital Kigali on charges of inciting the public and creating a criminal organization, a state investigative agency said. Sean Hogan reports.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Brampton Mayor calls for terror designation of India-based Bishnoi gang
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown is calling on Ottawa to label the Lawrence Bishnoi gang a terrorist organization, warning the India-based group has entrenched itself in Peel Region and is linked to a number of criminal activities. Brown made the comment during an interview with calling the Bishnoi gang a 'horrible criminal organization.' His comments come just days after British Columbia Premier David Eby made a similar request of Ottawa and promised to formally write Prime Minister Mark Carney about the matter. 'We've had a number of Bishnoi-related criminal activities in Peel Region,' Brown told CTV News Toronto. 'We know they're happening across the country because we actually are in close contact with other law enforcement, particularly in B.C., where there's activity with the same criminal network.' Bishnoi himself has been imprisoned in India since 2014 but the country's counterterrorism law enforcement agency, the National Investigation Agency, has previously said that he continued to operate his 'terror-syndicate' from behind bars and through an associate in Canada. Brown said that the gang Bishnoi leads employs a global network of '700 shooters' and is actively recruiting vulnerable residents in Peel and beyond — a level of criminality he suggests is 'akin to a terrorist organization.' Brown further alleges that he is directing criminal activity throughout Canada. 'This is not a Brampton issue, Mississauga issue, a Toronto issue… This is transnational crime,' he told 'Whether it is crime syndicates from Mexico or crime syndicates from India, we are dealing with transnational crime increases in recent years that is a new challenge to our ability to push out criminality.' An opportunity for 'greater investigative tools' Just this week, a new report from Canada's spy agency labelled India as one of the 'main perpetrators' of foreign interference and espionage. The report also pointed to a link between government agents and 'criminal networks to sow violent activity in South Asian communities in Canada.' It's reality that Brown says the Ottawa should not turn a blind eye to. 'I think diplomacy is important, trade is important but if another country wanted us to turn a blind eye to transnational crime in order to achieve that, I think that would be something that's beyond what we should be comfortable with,' he said, Brown says classifying the Bishnoi network as a terrorist entity under Canada's Criminal Code would empower police to act more decisively. 'The listing would mean greater investigative tools, resources, collaboration with multiple agencies, intelligence sharing,' he said. 'There's just a number of things that are triggered by that designation.' He also says the threat has gripped his local community, particularly residents of South Asian descent who recognize the Bishnoi name from headlines in India. 'We have a lot of residents of South Asian background who are terrified by it,' Brown said. 'It's at the behest of PRP, who I've got great confidence in, but it's also at the behest of residents of mine that I know feel terrified by the brazen nature of their activity in Canada.' Already, Brown's office has submitted several recommendations to Ottawa to bolster public safety, including Criminal Code amendments, bail reform, and stronger intelligence sharing between agencies. He says increased federal involvement is essential. 'You can't fix public safety unless you get all levels of government owning their part and doing their part,' he said. 'The Government of Canada, since they're in charge of Public Safety Canada, CBSA and RCMP, there's certainly a lot they can do to be part of the solution.' With files from The Canadian Press.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
MCSO: SF man stole $25K from elderly Marin County resident in fake FBI agent scheme
(KRON) — A San Francisco man with ties to a large criminal organization helped scam an elderly Marin County resident out of $25,000, the Marin County Sheriff's Office said. In February, someone impersonating the FBI allegedly contacted the elderly resident over the phone, claiming that there was an active investigation involving the victim's bank account. During the conversation, the person allegedly talked the victim into withdrawing the money and having it deposited into a ''safe Federal bank account' via courier,' the Marin County Sheriff's Office said. Tangled bear cub rescued from soccer net at Lake Tahoe After the victim withdrew $25,000, 38-year-old Zian Hu of San Francisco allegedly showed up at the victim's house and collected the money. 'The fake FBI agents then attempted to convince the resident to purchase gold and provide it to a courier,' the MCSO said. 'At that point, the resident became suspicious and contacted a real FBI agent. The real FBI agent informed the resident that they were being scammed and directed them to contact local law enforcement.' The MCSO identified Hu as a suspect in the case and arrested him at a home in Daly City. Hu was booked into the Marin County Jail on felony charges of grand theft, elder abuse and conspiracy. 'Based on Hu's connection with a larger criminal enterprise, Detectives believe Hu has access to large amounts of illegally obtained cash,' the MCSO said. 'A bail enhancement from $50,000 to $1 million was requested and granted.' On May 12, MCSO detectives arrested 24-year-old Balraj Singh of Torrance for allegedly running a similar scam. 'Singh went to a victim's residence to pick up $50,000 in cash but was contacted by law enforcement before completing the theft,' the MCSO said. 'Singh was arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail for attempted grand theft, attempted elder abuse, and conspiracy.' Singh is also allegedly connected to a larger criminal organization and has access to large amounts of illegally obtained cash. Based on these accusations, Singh was denied bail. MCSO detectives are looking for possible accomplices in both cases. There is no confirmed connection between the cases at this time. 'The Marin County Sheriff's Office continues to notice an increase in scams targeting our elderly residents,' the MCSO said. 'While the specifics of each scam often varies, they often involve suspects arranging for couriers to pick up cash and/or gold.' $10M winning Scratcher ticket sold at Concord liquor store There is no legitimate situation where a company or law enforcement agent will request delivery of cash/currency by courier. There is no reason to withdraw funds or purchase gift cards and provide them to unknown individuals. If you receive an email from a company that seems suspicious regarding a transaction, do not use the numbers provided on the email. Look up the company's phone number on their website. Fraudulent/suspicious activity can come from emails, text messages, and phone calls. If you are not sure if the correspondence from a business is legitimate, ask a friend, family member, or call your local law enforcement agency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
