More than 300 charged in $14.6 billion health care fraud schemes takedown, Justice Department says

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press WASHINGTON AP State and federal prosecutors have charged more than people and uncovered nearly million in false states in what they described Monday as the largest coordinated takedown of fitness care fraud schemes in Justice Department history Law enforcement seized more than million in cash luxury vehicles cryptocurrency and other assets as prosecutors warned of a growing push by transnational criminal networks to exploit the U S physical condition care system As part of the sweeping crackdown leaders identified perpetrators based in Russia Eastern Europe Pakistan and other countries Related Articles Disney cruise ship rescue crew saves girl and father after overboard fall A more defensive Pride Activists say celebrations are more critical as US conservative states rescind LGBTQ protections Fans criticize Beyonc for shirt calling Native Americans the enemies of peace Woman burned in Boulder firebombing attack dies US skips global UN meeting aimed at raising trillions to combat poverty These criminals didn t just steal someone else s money They stole from you Matthew Galeotti who leads the Justice Department s criminal division recounted reporters Monday Every fraudulent claim every fake billing every kickback scheme represents money taken directly from the pockets of American taxpayers who fund these essential programs through their hard work and sacrifice The alleged billion in fraud is more than twice the previous record in the Justice Department s annual medical care fraud crackdown It includes nearly federal cases and more than state cases that have been charged or unsealed since June Nearly licensed physiological professionals were charged including doctors and the leadership disclosed billion in actual losses Among the cases is a billion urinary catheter scheme that officers say highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods used by transnational criminal organizations Functionaries say the group behind the scheme used foreign straw owners to secretly buy up dozens of anatomical supply companies and then used stolen identities and confidential strength details to file fake Medicare insists Nineteen defendants have been charged as part of that analysis which personnel dubbed Operation Gold Rush including four people arrested in Estonia and seven people arrested at U S airports and at the dividing line with Mexico prosecutors mentioned The scheme involved the stolen identities and personal information of more one million Americans according to the Justice Department It s not done by small time operators declared Dr Mehmet Oz who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services These are organized syndicates who are designing to hurt America