U.S. Justice Department charges 455 in $6.5 B health‑care fraud takedown

The U.S. Department of Justice announced a nationwide health‑care fraud operation that resulted in criminal charges against 455 defendants across 45 states and territories. The scheme, described as the largest combined federal‑state effort in history, allegedly involved more than $6.5 billion in false Medicare, Medicaid and other government health‑care claims. Charges cover a range of misconduct, including kickbacks, medically unnecessary services, false diagnoses, opioid‑abuse conspiracies and telemedicine scams. The crackdown led to the suspension of 1,079 providers, the revocation of billing privileges for 1,403 providers and the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles and jewelry.

Among the high‑profile arrests were Ibrahim Haldun Hilmi, accused of organizing a $3.7 billion Medicare fraud ring and captured in Turkey before being returned to the United States, and Khalid Satary, a Louisiana‑based operator of diagnostic labs alleged to have defrauded Medicare of $547 million, now listed on the FBI’s Most Wanted fraudsters. The operation also involved international cooperation, with law‑enforcement partners in Turkey and other jurisdictions assisting in apprehensions. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized that the takedown is intended to protect taxpayers, safeguard patient care and deter future fraud.