NASHVILLE, TN – A Hendersonville couple is facing serious federal charges today as part of the Department of Justice’s massive 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. Xuhan Zhang a/k/a “Shelia Zhang” a/k/a “Xuhan Mei, 62, and her husband, Jing Qi Mei, 65, are accused of systematically defrauding Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield out of approximately $6.5 million by billing for inpatient hospital services that simply never happened.
Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee didn’t mince words, stating, “Our office will vigorously pursue those who would defraud American taxpayers by these illegal health care fraud schemes.” The indictment alleges that between 2017 and 2025, the pair submitted fraudulent claims for services provided by Zhang, a licensed medical doctor, with Mei handling the billing. The scheme wasn’t just sloppy; it was audacious. Claims were filed for services exceeding 24 hours in a single day, for patients already in nursing homes, and, chillingly, even for those already deceased. The hospital they claimed to be utilizing had, in fact, closed.
This case is part of a nationwide crackdown that netted charges against 324 defendants and a staggering $14.6 billion in alleged fraudulent billings. Federal authorities seized over $245 million in assets across the country. Attorney General Pamela Bondi delivered a stark warning: “This administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.” The scale of the alleged fraud is immense, and the message is clear: federal investigators are actively targeting those who prey on the healthcare system.
The government has already moved to seize assets linked to the scheme, including approximately $6,000,000 from bank accounts and, notably, a brand new Tesla CyberTruck. The Asset Forfeiture Unit is working to ensure that any ill-gotten gains are returned to the taxpayers who were victimized. The charges against Zhang and Mei include conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud itself, false statements related to health care, aggravated identity theft, a conspiracy to launder money, and actual money laundering.
“The scale of today’s Takedown is unprecedented, and so is the harm we’re confronting,” stated HHS-OIG Acting Inspector General Juliet T. Hodgkins. “Individuals who attempt to steal from the federal health care system and put vulnerable patients at risk will be held accountable.” The investigation, spearheaded by Senior Litigation Counsel Robert Levine and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Bogni and Stephanie Toussaint (handling asset forfeiture), highlights the coordinated effort between federal agencies to combat healthcare fraud.
Nashville, often touted as a hub for legitimate healthcare business, is increasingly becoming a focal point for federal crackdowns on fraudulent activity. McGuire emphasized, “Nashville is a great place for honest health care business and a terrible place for those who would commit health care fraud.” The investigation remains ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the case proceeds through the federal court system. Zhang and Mei face a potentially lengthy prison sentence if convicted on all charges.
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- Sandra, Calvin, Bryan Bailey Convicted in $Million Medicare Fraud · Mississippi
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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