HOUSTON — A Texas woman accused in an alleged health care fraud scheme approaching $100 million has been placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudster list, federal officials announced Tuesday.
The FBI’s Houston office identified the woman as Emylee Thai, who investigators say was involved in a kickback operation tied to genetic testing that authorities allege was medically unnecessary.
Thai was charged on July 11, 2022, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and paying kickbacks connected to a federal health care program, according to officials.
Federal prosecutors allege that, starting in 2019, Thai operated as a laboratory owner and worked with marketers who supplied signed doctors’ orders and DNA samples from beneficiaries. In return, the marketers allegedly received a share of the reimbursements paid to the lab, the FBI said.
Investigators said Medicare often paid several thousand dollars per beneficiary for the genetic tests, but the testing was allegedly not medically necessary and was frequently not used as part of the patients’ treatment.
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During that period, Thai’s laboratory billed Medicare about $142 million for genetic testing and received roughly $95 million in payments on those claims, FBI officials said.
After her arrest, Thai was released on bail under multiple conditions, including a requirement that she wear a location monitoring device. Authorities said the monitor was removed on Dec. 8, 2022, with her last known location recorded at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. After repeated attempts to reach and find her, officials issued a warrant for her arrest the following day.
Investigators later determined that Thai was able to leave the United States using a private aircraft and a false identity, according to the FBI. Officials with the Houston office said she is believed to be in Vietnam.
On July 5, 2023, Thai was separately charged with destruction and alteration of records in a federal investigation, officials said.
The FBI Houston office said that there is a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to Thai’s arrest, advising people to call 1-800-CALL-FBI with tips.
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