Four individuals in New Hampshire have been charged for their alleged involvement in an extensive $3 billion healthcare fraud and money laundering scheme, federal prosecutors disclosed this week. The charges highlight a complex operation, parts of which are reportedly connected to a Russian transnational criminal organization.
<Allegations of Widespread Healthcare Fraud and Money Laundering
Kakha Bendeliani, 48, and Goga Danelia, 31, both citizens of Georgia, face charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering through the submission of fraudulent claims to Medicare. Authorities allege that Bendeliani and Danelia laundered illicit proceeds on behalf of a Russian transnational criminal organization, which is implicated in what prosecutors describe as the largest identity theft-driven healthcare fraud scheme ever prosecuted.
The investigation into this vast criminal network commenced after thousands of individuals, including elderly and disabled beneficiaries, contacted Medicare. They reported receiving Explanation of Benefits (EOB) forms for durable medical equipment (DME) that they had never ordered or received. Prosecutors state that this criminal enterprise orchestrated the multi-billion-dollar scheme to defraud Medicare, other government-sponsored health insurance programs, and private health insurance companies.
U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, Erin Creegan, commented on the charges against Danelia and Bendeliani, stating,
“These charges expose the staggering scale of fraud and money laundering that Transnational Criminal Organizations are willing to inflict on our health care system and the people of New Hampshire.”
Bendeliani is accused of acting as the
