Washington, D.C. — In what federal officials are calling the most expansive crackdown in U.S. history, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its law enforcement partners have charged 324 individuals across the country in a sweeping $14.6 billion health-care fraud operation.
The announcement was made on June 30 by the DOJ, the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and a coalition of 12 state attorneys general. Charges were filed in 50 federal districts, and arrests included doctors, nurses, medical business owners, and licensed professionals accused of schemes involving fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid billing, illegal prescriptions, and the distribution of controlled substances.
“Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.
FBI Director Kash Patel added, “With more than $13 billion in fraud uncovered, this is the largest takedown for this initiative to date.”
The Schemes Among the most significant operations revealed: - A $10 billion international catheter scam, known as “Operation Gold Rush,” used stolen identities and shell companies to bill Medicare for supplies that were never delivered.
- A nationwide network of telehealth providers allegedly submitted hundreds of millions in fake claims tied to genetic testing, orthotics, and mental health evaluations that never occurred.
- Multiple schemes focused on the illegal distribution of Adderall, oxycodone, and other opioids, particularly in areas hit hard by the addiction crisis.
The DOJ also confirmed the seizure of $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, real estate, and cryptocurrency wallets tied to the defendants.
TARGETING PROFESSIONAL ABUSERS More than 100 of those charged were licensed medical professionals, including 25 physicians. Officials say the operation targeted both large-scale fraud rings and smaller bad actors who regularly billed Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary or non-existent services.
Attorney General Bondi emphasized the cost to taxpayers and patients. “Every dollar stolen is a dollar that doesn’t help someone who truly needs care. These are crimes of theft, deception, and in many cases, patient harm.”
OKLAHOMA NOT IMMUNE While the headlines focus on coastal states, Oklahoma has not been left out of the sweep.
Two men — one in Oklahoma City and one in Tulsa — have been charged as part of this national takedown.
- Alexander Frank, 55, of OKC, was indicted on 25 counts of Medicare fraud after allegedly submitting $3.2 million in false claims for skilled nursing facility visits that were never performed.
- In Tulsa, Dr. Ladd Clayton Atkins, 50, is accused of illegally prescribing Adderall and submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid under the guise of legitimate treatment.
Both cases are being prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys in the Western and Northern Districts of Oklahoma, and remain pending. Both men are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU This historic sweep highlights how health-care fraud isn’t just a “big city” problem — it affects rural communities, small clinics, and vulnerable patients in every corner of the country, including western Oklahoma.
If you believe you or a family member may have been: - Billed for services you never received - Offered suspicious telehealth prescriptions - Pressured into unnecessary testing or procedures —you may have been caught in a fraudulent scheme.
Oklahoma residents can report suspicious Medicare or Medicaid billing by contacting the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit through the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office at (405) 522-2963, or by visiting www.oag. ok.gov and selecting “Report Fraud.”
BOTTOM LINE:
Health-care fraud drains billions from programs designed to help real people. While this week’s takedown is historic, it also sends a clear message: No state is immune, and no scam is too small to investigate.
