A fugitive accused of orchestrating a massive MedicareFraud scheme has been captured overseas after more than three years on the run, according to the Justice Department.
Khalid Satary, 54, was arrested in the Middle East on Monday following an international manhunt, per the New York Post.
He had been wanted in connection with allegations that he helped defraud Medicare of more than $547 million.
Satary was indicted in 2019 in the Eastern District of Louisiana over allegations that he billed Medicare for expensive and medically unnecessary genetic tests between 2016 and 2019.
Prosecutors allege Satary worked with patient recruiters, telemarketing operations, and telemedicine companies to promote genetic testing through deceptive marketing campaigns.
Authorities also accused him of using illegal kickbacks and bribes to generate test samples that could result in Medicare reimbursements of as much as $20,000 each.
According to the allegations, the scheme resulted in more than $547 million in Medicare billings, while millions of dollars were allegedly paid in illegal kickbacks and bribes to doctors and patient recruiters.
Satary was released on bond following his indictment and was ordered not to work in the medical field.
Prosecutors allege he later continued working with Houston-area laboratories to submit fraudulent genetic testing claims to Medicare.
A federal arrest warrant was issued in 2022 after Satary allegedly failed to appear for a court hearing and fled the country.
Authorities said he was arrested Monday with a fraudulent Mexican passport carrying a false name. He was later brought back to the United States and appeared in federal court in Virginia on Tuesday.
Satary faces charges including conspiracy to commit health care Fraud and wire Fraud, health care Fraud, conspiracy involving the United States and illegal health care kickbacks and bribes, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Satary's arrest marked the third capture from the agency's Most Wanted Fraudsters List in five weeks.
The FBI launched the list in June as part of an effort targeting major Fraud suspects. Satary was the third person on the new list to be arrested.
If convicted, Satary could face decades in prison. The charges carry potential maximum sentences ranging from five to 20 years, depending on the offense.