TL/DR –
The US Attorney’s Office has charged 13 people with healthcare fraud, targeting vulnerable individuals and exploiting taxpayer-funded programs for a total of more than $365 million. The fraudulent schemes, which took place across seven cases in the Northern District of Texas, included submitting false claims to Medicare, Tricare, and other insurance companies, and diverting funds intended for vulnerable populations such as elderly Medicare beneficiaries and military members. As part of the crackdown, more than $35 million has been seized in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets from the accused.
Healthcare Fraud Charges Filed Against 13 People in the U.S.
Yesterday, 13 people were charged with healthcare fraud in the Northern District of Texas. These charges relate to seven different cases, targeting vulnerable populations and misusing taxpayer-funded programs, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould stated that fraudulent healthcare claims amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars were submitted to various insurers, including Medicare and Tricare. Medicare and Tricare are known for serving elderly and military populations, respectively. Allegedly, these funds were exploited to benefit the defendants personally.
The authorities have seized over $35 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets in relation to these fraudulent activities. Among the cases, one revolves around a North Texas skin-graft company that submitted false and fraudulent claims amounting to $260 million, trading wound-care products for kickbacks.
Another case involves a North Texas psychological counselor, accused of providing medically unnecessary therapy billed to Tricare for military veterans. In some instances, the individuals billed for therapy did not receive any treatment, yet the accused submitted over $26 million in false claims.
Details of the Individuals Charged
The list of those charged in these healthcare fraud cases include:
- Devin Jack Brodman, of Coconut Creek, Florida, charged with submission of fraudulent claims by two North Texas labs for ineligible testing services, resulting in approximately $43 million received from Medicare.
- Kevin Darnell Curry, of Frisco, Texas, accused of healthcare fraud, illegal kickbacks, and bribes. Curry allegedly fraudulently billed for medically unnecessary treatments, submitting approximately $26.87 million in false claims to TRICARE.
- Dr. Olubayo Idowu, Dr. James Lou Carlisle Jr, and Vaughn Anthony Brozek, who allegedly submitted more than $25 million in fraudulent claims for unnecessary electroencephalography (EEG) testing.
- Catherine Nkeiru Maduka, of Garland, Texas, indicted for creating a hospice scheme that submitted over $3.1 million in false claims to Medicare.
Others charged include Jason Charles Mareno, David Lee Lloyd, Jason Kashou, Michael Ly, Michael McMillan, and Neel Vivek Paithankar.
Ensuring Accountability with the Texas Strike Force
The charges arise from a federal initiative called The Texas Strike Force, dedicated to identifying and prosecuting healthcare fraud. During this crackdown, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould emphasized their commitment to pursue fraudsters aggressively and hold them accountable under the law.
Jason E. Meadows, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, highlighted the wide range of criminal conduct involved, including illegal kickbacks, medically unnecessary genetic testing, and fraudulent testing in hospice fraud schemes.
Meadows emphasized the national effort to ensure Tricare, the healthcare program for service members, is not exploited. In his words, “Today’s takedown shines a bright light on fraudulent schemes that have targeted Tricare for years.”
Nationwide Charges and International Efforts
The U.S. Justice Department announced 455 charges nationwide, totaling over $6.5 billion in alleged fraud. International efforts have also resulted in the apprehension of fugitives abroad, with defendants charged in Estonia, Kyrenia, and the Philippines for fraudulent healthcare schemes amounting to billions of dollars.
Commenting on the charges, Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald warned that the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division is ramping up its offensive against those misusing the healthcare sector for personal gain, with the clear message that those prioritizing profit over patients can expect to face prison.
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