Feb. 21, 2024

Florida Man Indicted for Health Care Fraud, Wire Fraud, Illegal Kickbacks in $97 Million Scheme

A Florida man was charged in an indictment unsealed today for his role in durable medical equipment (DME) kickback scheme that caused $97 million in losses to Medicare, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna announced today. Raheel Naviwala, 35, of Coral Springs, Florida, is charged in a 10-count indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, three counts of health care fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, and three counts of illegal kickbacks.

Feb. 19, 2024

Matanuska Valley Woman charged with healthcare fraud, false statements

A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Matanuska Valley woman with healthcare fraud and with making a false statement in a loan application. According to court documents, beginning in January 2017, Melissa Ann Dobbs, 50, allegedly executed and attempted to execute a scheme to defraud healthcare benefit programs. The indictment also alleges that Dobbs made a false statement to a federally insured bank. According to State of Alaska records, Dobbs holds a professional behavior analyst license.

Feb. 16, 2024

Former Delaware Specialty Pharmacy Chief Marketing Officer Agrees to Six-Year Exclusion from Federal Healthcare Programs for Allegations of Kickback and False Claims Act Violations

United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today that Carla Sparkler, former Chief Marketing Officer of BioTek reMEDys Inc. (BioTek), located in New Castle, Delaware, has agreed to resolve allegations that she violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to patients and physicians and waiving co-pays to protect BioTek’s revenue stream.

Feb. 16, 2024

Owner of Telemedicine Companies Charged with $110 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

The owner of Expansion Media (Expansion) and Hybrid Management Group (Hybrid) has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with a $110 million telemedicine fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME), including orthotics such as back and knee braces.

Feb. 15, 2024

U.S. Attorney Announces $25.5 Million Settlement With Durable Medical Equipment Supplier Lincare Inc. For Fraudulent Billing Practices

Lincare Admits That It Received Reimbursements for Claims That Did Not Comply With Billing Rules and Guidance and Continued To Seek Payments in Instances When It Was Aware Patients Were Not Using the Respiratory Equipment

Feb. 9, 2024

Readout of Disruptive Technology Strike Force One-Year Summit

On Feb. 7 and 8, the Justice Department’s National Security Division hosted a summit in Phoenix, Arizona, to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the launch of its Disruptive Technology Strike Force – an interagency law enforcement effort aimed at preventing critical technologies from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states.

Feb. 9, 2024

Florida Felon Admits Role in Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Kickback Scheme After Pleading Guilty to COVID-19 Fraud and Unlawfully Possessing Firearms

On Feb. 8, a Florida man admitted his role in a multimillion-dollar durable medical equipment (DME) kickback scheme, after previously pleading guilty to carrying out a COVID-19 fraud scheme and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Kareem Memon, 34, of Coral Springs, Florida, pleaded guilty, before U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal in the Southern District of Florida, to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (Case No. 24-cr-60004).

Feb. 8, 2024

Founder and Former CEO of Sustainable Fuel Company Pleads Guilty to Multimillion Dollar Embezzlement and Investor Fraud Scheme

The founder and former CEO of a sustainable fuel company pleaded guilty today to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to embezzle at least $5.9 million from the company and to defraud several investors out of $15 million.

Feb. 8, 2024

Ten Defendants Arrested on Federal Indictments Related to a Multi- Million Dollar Fraud Scheme

As a result of a law enforcement operation on February 7, 2024, 10 defendants were arrested at locations throughout Maryland and three search warrants were executed related to an alleged money laundering conspiracy involving more than $9.5 million in proceeds from fraud schemes. Law enforcement agents from the Homeland Security Investigations Mid-Atlantic El-Dorado Task Force, the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service participated in yesterday’s searches and arrests.

Feb. 7, 2024

Missouri-Based Defense Department Contractor Admits Fraud

A Defense Department contractor from St. Charles County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted illegally obtaining parts for the military overseas, undercutting domestic suppliers. David Murar, 73, waived his right to indictment by a grand jury and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.