Federal prosecutors said the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown targeted schemes involving Medicare, Medicaid, hospice care, wound treatment, opioid distribution and genetic testing fraud.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Justice Department announced Tuesday that federal and state authorities have charged 455 defendants in an alleged $6.5 billion health care fraud crackdown described by officials as the largest health services fraud takedown in U.S. history.
The 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown targeted alleged schemes involving Medicare, Medicaid, hospice services, wound care, opioid distribution and genetic testing. The enforcement action spanned 57 federal court districts and 41 states and territories, according to the DOJ.
Prosecutors said about 90 medical professionals were among those charged. Authorities also seized more than $127 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry and other assets allegedly tied to fraudulent activity.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the cases reflected the administration’s effort to protect taxpayers and federal health programs from fraud.
“Fraudsters can no longer rip off American taxpayers,” Blanche said while announcing the results.
“If you seek to harm or cheat Americans, we will find you, seize any assets, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” he added.
The Wall Street Journal reported that more than 100 defendants were accused of filing more than $100 million in false Medicaid claims. Officials said that marked a record number of Medicaid fraud cases in a single enforcement operation.
The Justice Department also announced new data-sharing agreements among federal agencies aimed at detecting fraudulent billing more quickly. Officials said the effort will use advanced analytics and machine learning tools to identify suspicious claims and patterns across taxpayer-funded health programs.
One major case highlighted by prosecutors involved Los Angeles-area hospice operator Oren David Shachar. Prosecutors allege Shachar paid kickbacks and enrolled patients who were not terminally ill into hospice programs, leading to nearly $27.7 million in fraudulent Medicare claims.
Authorities also allege that deceased beneficiaries were enrolled after death using stolen personal information and falsified records. Shachar has pleaded not guilty.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the takedown is part of a broader anti-fraud campaign. He also announced that two new fugitives have been added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudster List after two others were recently captured.
Patel identified Khalid Ahmed Satary, who is wanted in connection with an alleged $547 million health care fraud conspiracy, and Emylee Thai, who was indicted in an alleged genetic testing scheme that billed Medicare about $142 million and received roughly $95 million in payments. Both have been fugitives since 2022.
The enforcement action comes as the Trump administration expands its government-wide fraud prevention efforts. Vice President JD Vance’s Anti-Fraud Task Force has announced new oversight measures for Medicare and Medicaid, while the DOJ is accelerating reviews of whistleblower complaints involving taxpayer-funded benefit programs.
Administration officials said the takedown sends a clear warning that federal health care dollars are intended for patients, not fraud schemes.
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