Massachusetts, Rhode Island residents charged in alleged $6.5 billion health care fraud takedown

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE – Massachusetts and Rhode Island residents have been charged in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare of over $5 million by submitting claims for durable medical equipment (DME) that was medically unnecessary and tainted by kickbacks. The charges filed today in federal court in Boston are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from an alleged fraud scheme

The charges announced Tuesday by U.S. Attorney Leah Foley and First Assistant United States Attorney Charles Calenda are 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 represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension 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 FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.  

“Fraud against public health care programs is not a victimless crime.  It undermines trust in essential government programs and drains resources intended to provide care and assistance to the members of our community that need it most,” 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 coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:

·        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 fraudulently billed to Medicare, of which over $2.6 million was paid. It is alleged that from approximately February 2023 through 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; submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare for orders for DME; receiving reimbursement from Medicare for these DME orders; and paying the telemarketers per brace order approved by Medicare.

Mareli Arias Batista, 57, of Providence, Rhode Island, was charged by indictment with false representation of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, false statement in application for a passport, use of a false passport, and bank fraud, in connection with a scheme to obtain benefits using the identity of another person. Among other benefits, Batista fraudulently obtained approximately $28,236.42 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Moreira of the District of Rhode Island and the Social Security Administration.

Balni Pimentel Lara, 59, of Providence, Rhode Island, an alien living unlawfully in the United States, was charged by indictment with 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 the identity of another person. Among other benefits, Lara fraudulently obtained approximately $24,018.86 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Moreira of the District of Rhode Island and 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. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virigina participated in the investigation of federal cases announced today.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Hoefle and Lauren Graber of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts’ Criminal Division.

The District of Massachusetts worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division as well as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.

Members of the public are 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 creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.