New Hampshire Charges 4 in $3 Billion Medicare Fraud, Laundering Proceeds for Russian Crime Ring
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 25
New Hampshire Charges 4 in $3 Billion Medicare Fraud, Laundering Proceeds for Russian Crime Ring
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 25
Summary
Four defendants were charged in New Hampshire over a long-running $3 billion healthcare fraud and money-laundering scheme that prosecutors said targeted Medicare, other public insurance programs and private insurers.
Prosecutors said the case surfaced after thousands of Medicare recipients—many elderly or disabled—reported benefit statements for durable medical equipment they never ordered or received.
Kakha Bendeliani and Goga Danelia allegedly moved proceeds from a urinary-catheter billing scam, with Bendeliani accused of withdrawing $12.59 million through six U.S. banks and wiring more than $12.5 million overseas for a Russian transnational criminal organization.
Fructoso de Jesus Gomez Agudelo allegedly used a stolen identity for more than 20 years to collect over $500,000 in Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, housing and SNAP benefits.
Rima Gerges-Maalouf was separately charged with diverting controlled drugs while working as a New Hampshire pharmacist, allegedly stealing 147 pills or capsules in one month; all four face decades in prison if convicted.
With healthcare fraud now a global enterprise, are recent government crackdowns enough to protect America's seniors and public funds?
How do international criminals turn simple medical supplies into multi-billion-dollar heists against U.S. taxpayers?
$7 Billion Healthcare Fraud Uncovered: Inside the 2026 National Takedown and Russian-Linked DME Scheme
Overview
In June 2026, the Department of Justice led a nationwide crackdown on healthcare fraud, known as the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. This operation involved 56 federal districts and 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, targeting widespread schemes such as wound-care and hospice care fraud. A major focus was on fraudulent amniotic wound allografts, with charges brought against 11 defendants and one company allegedly responsible for over $4 billion in Medicare billings. The takedown highlights the government’s broad and coordinated effort to address large-scale healthcare fraud and protect public funds.