Today, United States Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky announced criminal charges across 4 cases and against 7 defendants in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from fraudulent billing of Medicaid and Medicare, identity theft, misuse of a DEA number, making false statements relating to health care matters, acquiring and attempting to acquire controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge.United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Today, we announce four separate indictments charging five individuals and two local companies with defrauding the Medicaid and Medicare health programs. Those programs provide vital healthcare coverage to the elderly and the disadvantaged. They are funded by the hard work of the American taxpayer. As alleged in the respective charging documents, these defendants allegedly defrauded those vital healthcare programs, costing millions in loss to the American taxpayer and putting their own profit above the needs of patients.”“These indictments are the product of President Trump and Vice President Vance’s determination to root out fraud that has plagued our healthcare programs for too long,” said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “And, these indictments were only secured because the Commonwealth of Kentucky is fortunate to have well-coordinated federal and state law enforcement agencies focused on achieving a single mission: to identify and hold accountable anyone that steals from the American taxpayer. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky is committed to investigating and prosecuting health care fraud and aggressively pursuing restitution from the criminals that have defrauded hardworking American citizens. Congratulations to the law enforcement agencies and Assistant United States Attorneys who have worked diligently to bring these important health care fraud investigations to fruition.” “This year’s National Health Care Fraud Takedown represents the greatest whole-of-government effort to combat health care fraud in our Nation’s history,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Under the decisive leadership of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, and our law enforcement partners, this administration has ushered in a new era of enforcement that will safeguard taxpayer dollars.”"Every dollar stolen from Kentucky's Medicaid system is a dollar taken from someone in need. Our Office is proud to work with the outstanding U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Kentucky, Kyle Bumgarner and other federal partners in holding fraudsters accountable for stealing your tax dollars," said Attorney General Russell Coleman. "We're laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who take advantage of the vital Medicaid program and defraud our Commonwealth."The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Bumgarner are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Today’s Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history…
Source: U.S. Department of Justice