The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday that 455 defendants have been charged in connection with alleged health care fraud schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in false claims, marking what federal officials described as the largest coordinated health care fraud enforcement action in department history.
According to the Justice Department, the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown involved cases in 56 federal districts and 45 states and territories. Among those charged are 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals accused of participating in fraud and opioid diversion schemes that authorities said resulted in significant financial losses and patient harm.
Federal officials also announced the seizure of more than $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets tied to the investigations.
“This year’s National Health Care Fraud Takedown represents the greatest whole-of-government effort to combat health care fraud in our Nation’s history,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.
Record Medicaid Fraud Enforcement
The Justice Department said the operation included the largest number of Medicaid fraud defendants and the highest Medicaid-related loss amount ever charged in a national takedown.
Officials reported that 295 defendants were charged in schemes involving more than $518 million in allegedly fraudulent Medicaid claims.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also took administrative action, suspending 1,079 providers and revoking billing privileges for 1,403 providers. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General announced additional civil settlements, exclusions, and enforcement actions.
Wound Care Fraud Schemes Allegedly Generated Billions
Among the largest cases announced were several involving amniotic wound allografts.
Federal prosecutors charged 11 defendants, including company executives and medical professionals, in connection with alleged schemes involving billions of dollars in Medicare claims.
In Arizona, prosecutors accused a company executive of orchestrating an illegal kickback operation tied to wound care products. Authorities said providers billed Medicare more than $4 billion for the products, resulting in over $2 billion in payments.
In a separate case in the Southern District of Texas, a nurse practitioner was charged in connection with an alleged $906 million fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary allograft applications. Prosecutors said the defendant used proceeds from the scheme to purchase luxury vehicles, real estate, and jewelry, and help finance the construction of a beach resort in the Philippines.
Authorities said they seized more than $30 million from bank accounts, along with multiple luxury vehicles and high-value jewelry connected to the case.
Data Analytics Played Key Role
Federal officials credited advanced data analytics with helping uncover several major fraud schemes.
The Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Fusion Center and Financial Intelligence Review Team identified suspicious billing patterns that led to multiple investigations, including a $67 million Illinois Medicaid fraud case.
According to prosecutors, the defendant in that case allegedly billed Medicaid for hundreds of hours of counseling services per day while diverting millions of dollars into brokerage accounts, luxury vehicle purchases, real estate, and other personal expenses.
Officials said the defendant was arrested while attempting to leave the country.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the agency is increasingly using advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to identify suspicious claims before payments are made.
“CMS is done playing catch-up,” Oz said. “We’re deploying advanced data analytics to expose fraud networks, freeze suspicious payments, and shut down bad actors before they can do damage.”
Patient Harm Cases Included
Several cases announced during the takedown involved allegations of direct patient harm.
In Florida, a medical director was charged in connection with an alleged $89 million scheme involving unnecessary cardiovascular testing of student athletes. Prosecutors allege the defendant approved test results without proper review, potentially putting athletes at risk.
Authorities said one athlete later died from complications related to an enlarged heart after allegedly being cleared to continue participating in sports.
Other cases involved allegations of patient neglect, fraudulent hospice enrollments, and billing for services that were never provided.
International Arrests And Fugitive Apprehensions
The takedown also included significant international cooperation.
The Justice Department announced the apprehension and return of several health care fraud suspects from overseas, including one defendant accused of participating in a $3.7 billion fraud scheme, who was arrested in Kyrenia.
Two additional defendants connected to a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme were extradited from Estonia.
Federal officials also announced the arrest in the Philippines of Herb Kimble, who was previously named to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List in connection with an alleged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme.
The FBI simultaneously announced two new additions to its Most Wanted Fraudsters List.
Opioid Diversion Charges Filed
The nationwide operation also targeted illegal opioid distribution.
According to the Justice Department, 36 defendants, including 28 licensed medical professionals, were charged in cases involving the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids and other controlled substances.
One case in Pennsylvania alleges that defendants continued prescribing Schedule II controlled substances through a voicemail refill system despite reports that some patients suffered fatal overdoses.
In Texas, prosecutors charged a pharmacist and two clinic managers in connection with the alleged distribution of more than 3.4 million opioid and controlled-substance pills.
Health Care Fraud In North Texas
Several practitioners and business owners in North Texas were charged as part of the health care fraud takedown, including:
- Kevin Darnell Curry of Frisco, owner of Acuity TMS, was charged with health care fraud, paying illegal kickbacks and bribes, and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property in connection with fraudulent billing for transcranial magnetic stimulation treatments.
- Dr. Olubayo Idowu, 75, of Desoto, Dr. James Lou Carlisle Jr., 53, of Southlake, and nurse practitioner Vaughn Anthony Brozek, 56, of Hurst, were charged with submitting false and fraudulent medical claims for EEG testing.
- Catherine Nkeiru Maduka, 66, of Garland, owner and CEO of Saint Catherine’s Hospice, was charged in connection with false claims for hospice care.
- Jason Charles Mareno, 52, of Irving, and Michael Ly, 52, of Frisco, were charged with conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute in a scheme involving billing for COVID-19 test kits.
- Neel Vivek Paithankar, 25, of Irving, owner of VMP Health Care LLC, was charged with health care fraud for submitting Medicare claims for unnecessary and unwanted durable medical equipment.
Nationwide Enforcement Effort
The investigations were led by the Justice Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the FBI, HHS-OIG, DEA, Medicaid Fraud Control Units, and numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Since its creation in 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force program has charged more than 6,200 defendants who allegedly billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion, according to the Justice Department.
The charges announced in the 2026 takedown remain allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. More information on the individual cases can be found here, and court documents are posted here.
