Federal Officials Charge 14 in $57 Million Ohio Fraud Crackdown, Launch FBI Most Wanted List
Updated
Updated · WLWT Cincinnati · Jun 4
Federal Officials Charge 14 in $57 Million Ohio Fraud Crackdown, Launch FBI Most Wanted List
3 articles · Updated · WLWT Cincinnati · Jun 4
Summary
Fourteen defendants were accused in Ohio fraud cases spanning Medicaid, COVID-19 relief and romance scams, with officials valuing the alleged schemes at more than $57 million.
Nine defendants face federal and state charges tied to over $42 million in alleged fraud, including a Southern District case accusing four people of a $30 million behavioral-health billing scheme targeting children and young adults.
A separate Butler County case alleges Robert Haley submitted more than 60,000 false Medicaid claims from 2020 to May 2026, collecting over $12 million and later creating false records as investigators closed in.
Authorities said they seized about $469,000 from three bank accounts and 14 vehicles worth roughly $800,000, while suspending 49 home health providers deemed high risk.
The crackdown also launches an FBI Most Wanted Fraudsters program and an Ohio "Medicaid fraud room," extending Governor Mike DeWine's six-month moratorium on new home-health and hospice Medicaid providers.
The US loses up to $521 billion to fraud annually. Can this new national strategy finally turn the tide?
Beyond arrests, how will authorities dismantle global crime rings and recover the billions they have stolen from US citizens?
With scammers now using AI, how will the government's new crackdown protect vulnerable Americans from increasingly sophisticated digital threats?
Ohio’s Major Medicaid Fraud Bust: $30 Million Scheme Exposed, New Federal-State Tools, and Nationwide Home Health Freeze
Overview
In June 2026, Ohio launched a major crackdown on Medicaid fraud, following a high-profile roundtable with Governor Mike DeWine and federal Medicaid chief Dr. Mehmet Oz. Despite facing bipartisan criticism over the state's safeguards, DeWine emphasized Ohio's proactive approach, while Dr. Oz expressed confidence in the state's efforts. This new phase in fighting Medicaid fraud features strong federal-state partnerships and advanced detection tools, leading to the exposure of a $30 million behavioral health scheme. These actions highlight Ohio's commitment to identifying and addressing large-scale fraud, marking a significant step forward in protecting Medicaid integrity.