Four charged in alleged billion dollar healthcare fraud tied to Russian transnational criminal organization

Four radical successful New Hampshire person been charged for their alleged roles successful a long-running, $3 cardinal healthcare fraud and wealth laundering operation, prosecutors announced this week.

Fructoso de Jesus Gomez Agudelo, 76, of Nashua, is charged with ligament fraud and accused of stealing different person's identity.

Kakha Bendeliani, 48, and Goga Danelia, 31, some from the state of Georgia, were charged with conspiracy to perpetrate wealth laundering by submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare.

Bendeliani and Danelia allegedly laundered proceeds for a Russian transnational transgression enactment that participated successful the largest individuality theft-driven healthcare fraud strategy ever prosecuted, authorities said.

The probe began aft thousands of people, including the aged and those with disabilities, contacted Medicare aft receiving Explanation of Benefits (EOB) forms. The forms indicated they had received durable aesculapian instrumentality (DME) that they ne'er really ordered oregon received.

MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR HEALTHCARE FRAUD SCHEME INCLUDED GIVING PEOPLE 'UNNECESSARY' SKIN GRAFTS: DOJ

Surveillance showing Kakha Bendeliani astatine a fiscal instauration during the conspiracy. Bendeliani and 3 different defendants – Fructoso de Jesus Gomez Agudelo, 76; Goga Danelia, 31; Rima Gerges-Maalouf, 60 – are charged for their alleged roles successful a cardinal dollar wellness attraction fraud operation. (Department of Justice)

The transgression web orchestrated the multi-billion-dollar healthcare fraud and wealth laundering strategy that sought to bargain from Medicare, different government-sponsored wellness security programs and backstage wellness security companies, prosecutors said.

"These charges exposure the staggering standard of fraud and wealth laundering that Transnational Criminal Organizations are consenting to inflict connected our wellness attraction strategy and the radical of New Hampshire," Erin Creegan, U.S. lawyer for the District of New Hampshire, said of the charges against Danelia and Bendeliani.

Separately, Rima Gerges-Maalouf, 60, of Massachusetts, was charged with diverting controlled medicine drugs portion moving arsenic a pharmacist successful New Hampshire. Investigators accused her of opening up cause capsules to bargain the powdered medicine inside.

STOLEN IDS SOLD FOR ‘HAPPY MEAL’ PRICES FUEL BILLIONS IN US BENEFIT FRAUD

Surveillance showing Goga Danelia astatine a fiscal instauration during the alleged fraud operation. (Justice Department)

The indictments allege a wide assortment of fraud.

Agudelo allegedly stole and assumed the individuality of a U.S. national for implicit 20 years, utilizing the stolen persona to use for and bargain implicit $500,000 successful nationalist assistance — including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, lodging and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Meanwhile, Bendeliani allegedly acted arsenic the "nominee owner" of a fraudulent aesculapian instrumentality beforehand institution called Centennial Med Supply LLC. He allegedly allowed others to usage his idiosyncratic accusation to bargain the concern and acceptable up slope accounts crossed six U.S. banks.

He past allegedly withdrew $12,589,770 successful fraudulent Medicare payouts derived from a monolithic $3 cardinal urinary catheter billing scam. He utilized cashier's checks to fell the money's root earlier wiring much than $12.5 cardinal to overseas accounts.

HOSPICE FRAUD USES STOLEN IDENTITIES FOR FAKE PATIENTS

Danelia was Bendeliani's superior accomplice, the Justice Department said.

Since Bendeliani did not talk fluent English oregon drive, Danelia allegedly provided driving and English translation services to assistance him navigate U.S. banks.

Danelia besides helped Bendeliani unfastened accounts, retreat the fraudulent currency via cashier's checks and determination it into secondary accounts. The funds were yet wired retired of the U.S., authorities said.

While moving arsenic a temporary, per diem pharmacist astatine a pharmacy successful New Hampshire successful August 2024, Gerges-Maalouf besides allegedly stole medicine pills and capsule medicine powders meant for sick patients.

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She kept the medicine and ingested immoderate of the stolen drugs portion actively connected duty, according to the DOJ. In total, she is accused of stealing 147 pills oregon capsules of controlled substances successful a azygous month.

All 4 suspects look decades successful situation if convicted.