Kentucky Veterinarians Accused in $14.6B Health Care Fraud Takedown

Law enforcement officials in Kentucky have made a major move against health care fraud, charging five veterinarians with an alleged scheme that could cost taxpayers over $14.6 billion. The suspects, including Ashley Barnett, 41, of Louisville; Laura Webb, 37, of Springfield; and Rachel Goldstein, 43, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, are accused of using DEA registration numbers issued to others, obtaining controlled substances through fraud, and defrauding Medicaid programs.

United States Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner announced the charges as part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. ‘Health care providers must be trusted to appropriately prescribe highly-addictive medications,’ said Bumgarner. ‘Doing otherwise only exacerbates the opioid epidemic that has ravaged our Commonwealth.’

The investigation, coordinated nationally, resulted in charges against 324 defendants for their alleged roles in similar schemes. The United States has seized over $245 million in assets as a result of this takedown.

Barnett and Webb were charged with conspiracy to illegally use a DEA registration number issued to another. Both also faced charges of conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge. They are alleged to have issued prescriptions for over 25,000 Schedule II controlled substances under various canines’ names.

In addition to the above charges, Barnett was accused of theft of medical products for taking and concealing buprenorphine from her employer. Goldstein is charged with health care fraud for causing the submission of a claim for dextroamphetamine prescription to Medicaid. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari will handle the prosecution.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the administration’s stance on such crimes, stating, ‘This administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering our communities.’ The charges underscore the severity of the allegations and the impact of health care fraud on public welfare.