Latest news with #transnationalcriminals
Fox News
03-07-2025
- Fox News
How the Justice Department carried out a $14.6B healthcare fraud takedown
The Department of Justice's unveiling this week of sweeping charges against more than 300 defendants who allegedly defrauded Medicare and other taxpayer-funded programs came as part of the department's annual "takedown" event. The healthcare fraud takedowns have been a practice at the DOJ for more than a decade, but officials touted this one as the largest on record. It stood out not only for its size but also because it focused on transnational criminals and broached artificial intelligence. "This takedown represents the largest healthcare fraud takedown in American history," DOJ Criminal Division head Matthew Galeotti said. "But it's not the end. It's the beginning of a new era of aggressive prosecution and data-driven prevention." This year's operation led to 324 defendants being charged for submitting billions of dollars in allegedly fraudulent healthcare claims, including for medical care that patients never ended up receiving or that they received unnecessarily. A DOJ official told reporters after the announcement that the work was "strategically coordinated" so that the takedown involved "all new indictments, complaints, [and] informations." Charges were brought across 50 federal districts and, according to the official, all were brought or unsealed during a three-week period leading up to the takedown announcement. Galeotti said the intended false claims totaled $14.6 billion, and the actual losses reached $2.9 billion. Another DOJ official told Fox News Digital the purpose of the annual takedowns is "to raise public awareness and deter wrongdoers from engaging in this crime." The official noted that Operation Brace Yourself, a 2019 takedown, led to an estimated reduction of $1.9 billion being charged to Medicare for certain types of orthotic braces. "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," Galeotti said. The charges announced this week spanned the globe, and DOJ officials said that in addition to four arrested in Estonia and another seven arrested at airports on the U.S.-Mexico border, the department was working to extradite others overseas who are accused of crimes. Those defendants were part of an alleged scheme coined "Operation Gold Rush," which resulted in at least 20 members of a transnational criminal organization, including defendants based in Russia, being charged as part of a Medicare and money laundering operation that centered on catheters. The group behind the scheme allegedly used foreign ownership entities to buy dozens of medical supply companies and then used stolen identities and confidential health data to create and file $10.6 billion in claims with Medicare. "We are seeing a disturbing trend of transnational criminal organizations engaging in increasingly sophisticated and complex criminal schemes that defraud the American healthcare system," Galeotti said. Two owners of Pakistani marketing organizations were among those charged in an alleged $703 million scheme in which they used artificial intelligence to create fake recordings of Medicare recipients consenting to receive medical supplies. "We are concerned about the criminals' advancement in technology here, obviously," Galeotti said. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator who oversees the Medicare program, was pressed by a reporter about why fraudsters were so easily able to penetrate the Medicare payment system. Oz said CMS is working to meet the moment. The agency has "already launched a model. It is designed to use artificial intelligence and other more cutting-edge tools to address the fraud that exists in healthcare," Oz said. Investigating and prosecuting fraudsters is work that relies heavily on data. The DOJ's healthcare fraud unit has since 2018 had its own in-house team that analyzes data, one of the DOJ officials told Fox News Digital. The team's techniques include identifying "aberrant billing levels" and other suspicious billing patterns, as well as fraudulent practices that appear to move from one region to another. The team's ability to spot emerging trends, such as medical care professionals using skin grafts for wound care, also helps. One set of charges in the takedown involved three defendants in Arizona who allegedly purchased these types of skin grafts, known as "amniotic wound allografts," and unnecessarily applied them to elderly Medicare recipients, including hospice patients in their final days. The defendants allegedly reaped millions of dollars from the practice. "Patients and their families trusted these providers with their lives. Instead of receiving care, they became victims of elaborate criminal schemes," Galeotti said. DOJ officials said they plan to use a "fusion center" as part of their healthcare fraud crackdown. The center will combine data across agencies and is designed to create a more efficient analysis process. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is also involved in healthcare fraud work. A DEA official said during the takedown announcement that the agency's investigations included doctors, pharmacists and pharmacy owners. Fifty-eight cases involved the illegal distribution of an estimated 15 million pills of opioids and other controlled substances, he said. "These pills ended up on our streets in the hands of dealers and in the path of addiction," the DEA official said. Overall, dozens of medical care professionals, including 25 doctors, were charged in the takedown.
Washington Post
30-06-2025
- Washington Post
More than 300 charged in $14.6 billion health care fraud schemes takedown, Justice Department says
WASHINGTON — State and federal prosecutors have charged more than 320 people and uncovered nearly $15 million 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.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
More than 300 charged in $14.6 billion health care fraud schemes takedown, Justice Department says
WASHINGTON (AP) — State and federal prosecutors have charged more than 320 people and uncovered nearly $15 million 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. 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.'
The Independent
30-06-2025
- The Independent
More than 300 charged in $14.6 billion health care fraud schemes takedown, Justice Department says
State and federal prosecutors have charged more than 320 people and uncovered nearly $15 million 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. 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.'
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- RNZ News
Meth and cocaine with combined street value of $4.6m seized at Auckland Airport
Customs has seized about 15kg of methamphetamine and a large amount of cocaine at Auckland International Airport. Photo: Customs NZ A 19-year-old New Zealander has been arrested after drugs with an estimated street value of $4.67 million were found in his luggage at Auckland International Airport. Customs said it found around 15 kilograms of Class A drugs on 5 June, including a large quantity of methamphetamine with a street value of $3.9 million. They said the drugs, including cocaine with a value of $776,000, were in vacuum-sealed packets inside a suitcase. Customs Auckland Airport manager Paul Williams said the passenger on a flight from Los Angeles to Auckland was referred for a baggage check on arrival. "An examination of the suitcase identified 15 vacuum-sealed packets - 13 of which contained methamphetamine, with an estimated weight of 13 kilograms. "The remaining two packets were found to contain cocaine, with an estimated weight of two kilograms." Williams said removing this amount of methamphetamine from the market had prevented up to $13 million worth of social harm and cost. He said seizing the cocaine had prevented $747,000 worth of social harm and cost. He said trans-national criminal syndicates preyed on the young and vulnerable. However, Williams said Customs officers were trained and committed to blocking any attempt to get drugs or other harmful substances across the border, and the volume of record seizures at Auckland Airport already this year was testament to that. A 19-year-old New Zealand national has been arrested and faces charges of importation and possession for supply of Class A drugs. Suspicions about drug smuggling can be reported by calling 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) in confidence, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
