Four Charged in Alleged $3 Billion Medicare Fraud and Money-Laundering Case

Four people in New Hampshire face federal charges for alleged roles in a $3 billion healthcare fraud and money laundering operation, Fox News reported. Prosecutors said the case involves a Russian transnational criminal organization that submitted fraudulent Medicare claims for durable medical equipment. Fructoso de Jesus Gomez Agudelo, 76, of Nashua, is charged with wire fraud.

Authorities said he stole and used another person's identity for more than 20 years to obtain over $500,000 in public benefits including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, housing assistance and SNAP. Kakha Bendeliani, 48, and Goga Danelia, 31, both from Georgia, were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Bendeliani allegedly served as nominee owner of Centennial Med Supply LLC, a front company, and withdrew $12,589,770 from a urinary catheter billing scam before wiring the funds overseas using cashier's checks.

Danelia, his primary accomplice, provided driving and translation services and helped move the money through multiple accounts. Separately, Rima Gerges-Maalouf, 60, of Massachusetts, was charged with diverting controlled substances while working as a temporary pharmacist in New Hampshire in August 2024.

She is accused of stealing 147 pills or capsules in one month by opening capsules and ingesting some of the medication while on duty.

The investigation began after thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, including elderly and disabled individuals, contacted the agency after receiving Explanation of Benefits forms for equipment they never ordered or received. All four defendants face decades in prison if convicted, Fox News reported.