Healthcare
No matter how we manage our health, efficacy, risks and costing are top concernsArmenian-American groups were charged in federal court due to false medical claims, a largest Medicare fraud case
A country’s largest single Medicare fraud for at least $100 million in false medical claims has been charged in federal court on Wednesday.
Dozens of people alleged to be members of an Armenian-American crime group involved in this case.
44 people in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta were charged by authorities, including 3 suspects remained at large, in what prosecutors described as scheme that created 118 bogus medical clinics in 25 states and billed Medicare for imaginary treatment using identifies stolen from doctors and patients.
Medicare identified and shut down the phony clinics within several months. But authorities said more than $35 million had already been paid out to the crime group known as the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian organization and transferred overseas.
A Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “When it comes to making money illegaly, this Armenian-American group puts the traditional Mafia to shame,” with “a phantom doctor, a phantom office and phantom patients, the conspirators could bill Medicare with abandon.”
Among those charged was Armenian Kazarian, whom authorities described as a “vor” (a member of a select group of high-level criminals from Russia and other former Soviet republics.
Court documents also alleged other activities carried out by the group such as the distribution of drugs and contraband cigarettes.
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