LOUISVILLE, KY – In a relentless crackdown on health care fraud and opioid abuse, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett today dropped the hammer on six defendants accused of bilking healthcare benefit programs in the Western District of Kentucky.
The suspects are facing charges related to three separate billing schemes, one involving the theft of opioids, and another case where a physician allowed his staff to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances without his presence. The charges are part of the Justice Department’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland sent a strong message to those profiting from illegal substance distribution: ‘If you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable.’ His department is committed to justice for those who defraud Americans and endanger lives for profit.
The coordinated two-week enforcement action targeted 193 defendants nationwide, resulting in over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings and the seizure of over $231 million in assets. In Kentucky, the government seized cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other valuable items.
The investigation was a massive collaborative effort involving numerous agencies, including the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response Strike Forces and State Attorney Generals’ Offices from across the country. The Western District of Kentucky worked with local and federal law enforcement agencies to bring these cases to court, including the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), FBI, DEA, USPIS, IRS-CI, and more.
For detailed descriptions of each case, visit the Justice Department’s website here.
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Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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