The Department of Justice has announced the largest healthcare fraud takedown in U.S. history, charging 324 defendants across the nation and exposing billions in false Medicare claims as officials vow a new era of aggressive prosecution and advanced prevention tactics.

Massive Operation Sweeps the Nation

This week, the Department of Justice unveiled sweeping charges against more than 300 defendants accused of defrauding Medicare and other federal programs as part of its annual healthcare fraud takedown. The operation, described as the largest ever, resulted in 324 individuals being charged with submitting $14.6 billion in allegedly fraudulent healthcare claims, with actual losses totaling $2.9 billion.

According to DOJ Criminal Division head Matthew Galeotti, this year’s takedown is only the beginning of “a new era of aggressive prosecution and data-driven prevention.” The charges—spanning 50 federal districts—were all brought or unsealed within a tightly coordinated three-week period. Galeotti explained that the aim is not only to enforce the law but also to raise public awareness and deter would-be offenders from targeting taxpayer-funded healthcare programs.

International Networks, AI Scams, and Medical Abuse

The Justice Department detailed how the schemes went global, involving transnational criminal organizations, elaborate kickback operations, and the use of artificial intelligence to defraud Medicare. Among those charged are members of a group dubbed “Operation Gold Rush,” a transnational organization that used foreign entities to buy U.S. medical supply companies, steal patient identities, and file $10.6 billion in fraudulent claims—centered around catheters and money laundering schemes. Defendants include individuals arrested in Estonia and others taken into custody at U.S.-Mexico border airports, with extradition efforts underway for additional suspects abroad.

Authorities described an alarming trend of criminals using advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, to generate fake consent recordings from Medicare recipients. Two owners of Pakistani marketing firms allegedly used AI in a $703 million scheme to falsify patient approval for medical supplies.

The DOJ also exposed egregious cases of medical abuse, including three defendants in Arizona who bought “amniotic wound allografts”—a skin graft for wound care—and billed Medicare for unnecessary procedures on elderly patients, including those in hospice care. “Patients and their families trusted these providers with their lives. Instead of receiving care, they became victims of elaborate criminal schemes,” Galeotti said.

Data-Driven Crackdown and DEA Involvement

Officials stressed the critical role of advanced data analytics in tracking and prosecuting healthcare fraud. The DOJ’s in-house fraud unit uses data to identify suspicious billing, spot regional trends, and uncover new fraud patterns. The department plans to launch a “fusion center” that will combine data across agencies for even more efficient prevention and enforcement efforts.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also participated in the takedown, targeting illegal opioid distribution. DEA investigations included doctors, pharmacists, and pharmacy owners. In 58 separate cases, approximately 15 million opioid pills and other controlled substances were involved, with officials noting these drugs frequently end up fueling addiction and street sales.

In total, dozens of healthcare professionals—including 25 doctors—were charged. Officials emphasized that every false claim drains resources from essential public programs and ultimately harms American taxpayers. Galeotti assured the public, “This is not the end. It’s the beginning.”

The Justice Department’s crackdown marks a significant escalation in efforts to protect Medicare and the broader U.S. healthcare system from fraud. As data-driven investigations expand and international cooperation deepens, officials promise more aggressive action to deter and dismantle future healthcare scams.