(The Hill) The Justice Department on Monday announced criminal charges against more than 300 individuals over their alleged involvement in over $14.6 billion worth of health care fraud schemes.
According to the Department of Justice, its 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants across 50 federal districts. These defendants include 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other licensed medical professionals.
These individuals were allegedly involved in health care fraud schemes totaling $14.6 billion in intended loss, with the government seizing more than $245 million in “cash, luxury vehicles, cryptocurrency, and other assets.”
An additional $4 billion in false and fraudulent claims was stopped by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as part of the DOJ’s takedown. Civil settlements with 106 defendants totaling $34.3 million were also announced as part of this operation.
“We view the theft of public funds the same way. It’s a crime against all of us. Today, in conjunction with the DOJ and our federal partners, we are announcing the results from the largest healthcare fraud investigation, as measured by financial losses, in DOJ history,” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a statement on the social media platform X.
“Results matter. Talk is cheap. And this is not even the beginning of the beginning. If you’re stealing from the public, or violating your oath to serve, then we’re coming for you too,” Bongino said.
Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement that 11 individuals tied to a “transnational criminal organization” based in Russia were charged as part of the Takedown in a case titled “Operation Gold Rush.”
In this case, the defendants are alleged to have reaped millions from a health care fraud scheme in which they purchased dozens of durable medical equipment companies that were able to submit claims to Medicare and Medicare Supplement Insurers. By assuming control over these companies, the defendants are accused of submitting billions of dollars worth of false and fraudulent health care claims to Medicare.
