U.S. authorities charge 455 people in health care fraud cases involving $6.5 billion in false claims

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Tuesday that federal authorities have charged 455 defendants in recent weeks with health care fraud schemes that submitted more than $6.5 billion in false claims to Medicare, Medicaid and other programs.

New York Post reported that at least 90 of the defendants are medical professionals. The government seized $182 million in cash and other assets from the alleged participants.

One case involved an Arizona-based corporate executive charged with billing for unnecessary wound grafts and receiving $1 billion in taxpayer funds, with charges exceeding $1 million per patient. The executive and 10 other defendants used proceeds from the schemes to buy a $135,000 Maserati, an $865,000 Bulgari necklace and to build a $4.6 million resort in the Philippines.

Blanche stated at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington that the announcement marks the greatest combined federal and state effort in combating health care fraud in history.

He added that the government is taking back the money, luxury cars and jewelry and that the alleged fraudsters will face justice.