The Justice Department has unveiled what it calls the largest coordinated health care fraud takedown in U.S. history, charging over 320 individuals and uncovering nearly $15 million in false claims.
Authorities have seized more than $245 million in assets — including cash, luxury vehicles, and cryptocurrency — while warning of a surge in health care exploitation by transnational criminal groups, according to the Associated Press.
“These criminals didn’t just steal someone else’s money. They stole from you,” said Matthew Galeotti, head of the DOJ’s criminal division.
“Every fraudulent claim, every fake billing, every kickback scheme represents money taken directly from the pockets of American taxpayers,” Galeotti added.
The crackdown, which includes almost 190 federal cases and over 90 state cases filed since June 9, surpasses any previous health care fraud sweep by a wide margin.
Nearly 100 licensed health professionals, including 25 doctors, have been implicated, with government losses totaling an estimated $2.9 billion.
One major case—the so-called $10 billion urinary catheter scheme—exemplifies the complex methods employed by international fraud networks.
Federal prosecutors allege that foreign operatives used straw owners to acquire numerous medical supply companies, leveraging stolen identities and sensitive health data to submit fraudulent Medicare claims.
Nineteen individuals have been charged, including four arrested in Estonia and seven detained at U.S. airports and border crossings.
The DOJ said more than one million Americans had their personal information compromised in the scheme, dubbed “Operation Gold Rush.”
Officials identified perpetrators operating from countries including Russia, Eastern Europe, and Pakistan, highlighting the global scope of the fraud.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, who heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, underscored the seriousness of the threat.
“It’s not done by small time operators,” Oz said. “These are organized syndicates who are designing to hurt America.”
The operation represents a significant escalation in efforts to protect federally funded health programs from sophisticated, international criminal efforts.
