Residents of Massachusetts and Rhode Island have been charged in connection with an alleged plot to defraud Medicare of more than five million dollars by submitting claims for medically unnecessary and kickback-tainted durable medical equipment (DME). The charges filed today in federal court in Boston are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown initiative. The charges derive from an alleged fraudulent scheme.
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley and First Assistant United States Attorney Charles Calenda announced the charges on Tuesday as part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Today’s Takedown marks a new era in federal, state, and international collaboration to combat health care fraud: cases from 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the highest number in department history. Furthermore, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week takedown resulted in the arrest and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of the FBI’s Most Wanted fraudsters in connection with a previously charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud. The takedown includes using cutting-edge data analytics to target the worst perpetrators, seizing nearly $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets, and ensuring complete accountability for all criminal players, from doctors’ offices to corporate boardrooms.
“Defrauding public health-care programs is not a victimless crime. It undermines trust in critical government programs and drains resources intended to provide care and assistance to the most vulnerable members of our community,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles Calenda. “The District of Rhode Island is proud to participate in this nationwide effort to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who abuse these programs for personal profit.”
Tuesday’s concerted enforcement action takes a whole-of-government strategy, including the following:
· Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers;
· 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers;
· Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million; and
· 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since Oct. 1, 2025.
Bhamin Chhatrapati, 40, of Stoughton, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with over $5.1 million in fake Medicare billings, of which more than $2.6 million was received. It is alleged that from approximately February 2023 to in or around September 2024, Chhatrapati and co-conspirators conspired to commit health care fraud by working with telemarketers or call centers to obtain medical information from or about Medicare beneficiaries; using that information to prepare medical documentation for Medicare beneficiaries that made it appear that medical practitioners had legitimately prescribed medically necessary DME; and submitting fraudulent
Mareli Arias Batista, 57, of Providence, Rhode Island, was indicted on charges of false representation of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, false statement in a passport application, use of a false passport, and bank fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain benefits using another person’s identity. Among other advantages, Batista fraudulently collected around $28,236.42 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney John M. Moreira of the District of Rhode Island, as well as the Social Security Administration.
Balni Pimentel Lara, 59, of Providence, Rhode Island, an illegal alien living in the United States, was indicted on charges of false representation of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and health care fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain benefits using another person’s identity. Among other perks, Lara fraudulently collected $24,018.86 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney John M. Moreira of the District of Rhode Island, as well as the Social Security Administration.
The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Furthermore, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia took part in the investigation of federal cases disclosed today.
Assistant US Attorneys Sarah Hoefle and Lauren Graber of the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts’ Criminal Division are prosecuting this case.
The District of Massachusetts collaborated with the department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division, as well as the Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the formation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide program launched in response to widespread fraud being discovered in Massachusetts. The team is led by two senior federal prosecutors who serve as fraud coordinators. Their objective is to aggressively investigate and prosecute the misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
The public is encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the formation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division investigates and prosecutes individuals who perpetrate fraud against the American people. The Department’s efforts to combat fraud complement President Trump’s Task Force to eradicate Fraud, a whole-of-government initiative led by Vice President J.D. Vance to eradicate fraud, waste, and abuse in federal benefit programs.
The details in the charge document are allegations. The defendant is deemed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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