Federal authorities charge 15 in massive $1.8B Southern California medical fraud sweep

Federal authorities conducted predawn raids across Southern California on Thursday, busting suspected fraudsters — including a cardiothoracic surgeon — accused of stealing nearly $2 billion through sham substance abuse programs, unnecessary surgeries, and phony hospice care.In total, 15 people, including six medical professionals, were charged in connection with $1.8 billion in fraudulent claims submitted to government and private health insurance programs, the Justice Department said."These charges include the largest sober home fraud scheme the Department has ever prosecuted, and a scheme involving unnecessary invasive procedures that was detected through data analytics," said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. FBI ADDS 2 FUGITIVES TO 'MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS' LIST AMID HISTORIC $6.5B HEALTHCARE TAKEDOWN: PATEL"Our message is simple: if you steal health care dollars from the American taxpayer or abuse your position to harm patients, we are coming for you — and the data will lead us to you."Among the defendants are Dr.

Harold Tabaie, 78, of Anaheim, a cardiothoracic surgeon, and his business partner, Hany Malek, 61, a Tarzana chiropractor.The FBI makes an arrest early Thursday during a predawn raid over suspected medical fraud totaling $1.8 billion in Southern California.Fifteen people were charged in the case of suspected medical fraud.

(Justice Department)Both are charged in a $135 million scheme to bill Medicare for medically unnecessary atherectomies — an invasive arterial procedure using a bladed catheter to clear plaque.Prosecutors allege Malek posed as a medical doctor to diagnose patients with arterial disease and recommend atherectomies, even though the patients did not have the condition.CALIFORNIA DOCTOR CONVICTED OF $45M MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME THAT FUNDED LUXURY VACATIONS AND A $12K CROSSBOWTabaie and Malek’s clinic, where patients were initially seen before being refer...