10 Southern California defendants charged in $270M Medi-Cal fraud scheme

Federal authorities on Tuesday charged 10 Southern California defendants in a sequence of healthcare fraud schemes, together with one case involving practically $270 million in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims and one other that allegedly defrauded Medicare out of roughly $27 million.

The fees have been a part of the Justice Division’s broader “2026 Nationwide Well being Care Fraud Takedown,” which resulted in fees in opposition to 455 defendants nationwide in schemes involving greater than $6.5 billion in alleged fraud.

Appearing Lawyer Basic Todd Blanche described the operation as “the best mixed federal and state effort in combating healthcare fraud in historical past.”

“Fraudsters can now not rip off American taxpayers,” Blanche mentioned throughout a information convention saying the initiative. “Should you search to hurt or cheat Individuals, we are going to discover you, seize any belongings and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the legislation.”

FBI ADDS 2 FUGITIVES TO ‘MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS’ LIST AMID HISTORIC $6.5B HEALTHCARE TAKEDOWN: PATEL

Appearing Lawyer Basic Todd Blanche speaks throughout a information convention saying what federal officers described as the most important healthcare fraud takedown in U.S. historical past, leading to fees in opposition to 455 defendants nationwide. (Ken Cedeno / AFP by way of Getty Photos)

Within the Central District of California, federal prosecutors introduced felony fees in opposition to 10 defendants accused of defrauding government-funded healthcare applications or abusing their positions as medical professionals to illegally prescribe managed substances.

The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Central District of California mentioned 5 people have been arrested within the higher Los Angeles space for allegedly taking part in a scheme that concerned submitting practically $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal for costly pharmaceuticals.

Amongst these charged was Christina Mareik, 61, also referred to as Christina Marie Sanchez Hernandez, of Whittier.

HOSPICE FRAUD USES STOLEN IDENTITIES FOR FAKE PATIENTS

The Justice Division introduced fees in opposition to 10 Southern California defendants in reference to a number of healthcare fraud schemes. (Division of Justice)

Prosecutors allege Mareik helped facilitate fraudulent prescriptions that generated practically $270 million in claims to Medi-Cal, which in the end paid out greater than $178 million.

In response to prosecutors, the claims concerned costly medication containing low-cost generic elements that have been both not medically needed or have been by no means offered to the purported recipients.

Authorities mentioned Mareik additionally despatched 1000’s of fraudulent prescriptions to a co-conspirator and induced the submission of fraudulent prescriptions below her personal identify.

LOS ANGELES HOSPICE FRAUD REACHES BILLIONS AS MEDICARE PROVIDERS SCAM FEDERAL SYSTEM WITH FAKE COMPANIES

Federal prosecutors allege Southern California defendants participated in schemes that defrauded Medicare and Medi-Cal of tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars}. (Division of Justice)

Mareik was arrested June 17 and charged with healthcare fraud.

The fees additionally embrace a San Fernando Valley man accused of working hospice care corporations that fraudulently billed Medicare roughly $27 million, in accordance with prosecutors.

Prosecutors additionally charged Oren David Shachar, 59, of Van Nuys; Abraham Shin, 66, of Corona; and Jeannie Choi, 57, of Torrance.

The three defendants face a 16-count indictment alleging they conspired to defraud Medicare out of roughly $27 million.

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The fees embrace conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, aggravated id theft, financial transactions involving criminally derived property exceeding $10,000, and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute.

Fox Information Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.