DOJ charges 10 Southern California defendants in largest federal healthcare fraud crackdown in US history

Federal authorities connected Tuesday charged 10 Southern California defendants successful a bid of healthcare fraud schemes, including 1 lawsuit involving astir $270 cardinal successful fraudulent Medi-Cal claims and different that allegedly defrauded Medicare retired of astir $27 million.

The charges were portion of the Justice Department's broader "2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown," which resulted successful charges against 455 defendants nationwide successful schemes involving much than $6.5 cardinal successful alleged fraud.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described the cognition arsenic "the top combined national and authorities effort successful combating healthcare fraud successful history."

"Fraudsters tin nary longer rip disconnected American taxpayers," Blanche said during a quality league announcing the initiative. "If you question to harm oregon cheat Americans, we volition find you, prehend immoderate assets and prosecute you to the fullest grade of the law."

FBI ADDS 2 FUGITIVES TO 'MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS' LIST AMID HISTORIC $6.5B HEALTHCARE TAKEDOWN: PATEL

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during a quality league announcing what national officials described arsenic the largest healthcare fraud takedown successful U.S. history, resulting successful charges against 455 defendants nationwide. (Ken Cedeno / AFP via Getty Images)

In the Central District of California, national prosecutors brought transgression charges against 10 defendants accused of defrauding government-funded healthcare programs oregon abusing their positions arsenic aesculapian professionals to illegally prescribe controlled substances.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said 5 individuals were arrested successful the greater Los Angeles country for allegedly participating successful a strategy that progressive submitting astir $270 cardinal successful fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal for costly medicine drugs.

Among those charged was Christina Mareik, 61, besides known arsenic Christina Marie Sanchez Hernandez, of Whittier.

HOSPICE FRAUD USES STOLEN IDENTITIES FOR FAKE PATIENTS

The Justice Department announced charges against 10 Southern California defendants successful transportation with aggregate healthcare fraud schemes. (Department of Justice)

Prosecutors allege Mareik helped facilitate fraudulent prescriptions that generated astir $270 cardinal successful claims to Medi-Cal, which yet paid retired much than $178 million.

According to prosecutors, the claims progressive costly drugs containing low-cost generic ingredients that were either not medically indispensable oregon were ne'er provided to the purported recipients.

Authorities said Mareik besides sent thousands of fraudulent prescriptions to a co-conspirator and caused the submission of fraudulent prescriptions nether her ain name.

LOS ANGELES HOSPICE FRAUD REACHES BILLIONS AS MEDICARE PROVIDERS SCAM FEDERAL SYSTEM WITH FAKE COMPANIES

Federal prosecutors allege Southern California defendants participated successful schemes that defrauded Medicare and Medi-Cal of hundreds of millions of dollars. (Department of Justice)

Mareik was arrested June 17 and charged with healthcare fraud.

The charges besides see a San Fernando Valley antheral accused of operating hospice attraction companies that fraudulently billed Medicare astir $27 million, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors besides charged Oren David Shachar, 59, of Van Nuys; Abraham Shin, 66, of Corona; and Jeannie Choi, 57, of Torrance.

The 3 defendants look a 16-count indictment alleging they conspired to defraud Medicare retired of astir $27 million.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The charges see conspiracy to perpetrate healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, aggravated individuality theft, monetary transactions involving criminally derived spot exceeding $10,000, and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute.

Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.