The Department of Justice has announced a historic healthcare fraud operation, detailing charges against 455 defendants across 45 states accused of stealing $6.5 billion from Medicare and Medicaid. These defendants allegedly engaged in fraudulent activities like wound care schemes and false claims, funneling some proceeds into luxury items, including a $135,000 Maserati.
On Tuesday, federal authorities targeted 10 individuals in Southern California linked to multiple fraud schemes. These included a case involving almost $270 million in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims and another defrauding Medicare of around $27 million. This initiative is part of the Justice Department’s larger “2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described the effort as the most significant federal and state collaboration in the fight against healthcare fraud.
“Fraudsters can no longer rip off American taxpayers. If you seek to harm or cheat Americans, we will find you, seize any assets, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
In the Central District of California, prosecutors have filed criminal charges against ten individuals for defrauding government healthcare programs or illegally prescribing controlled substances. Five of these individuals were arrested in the Los Angeles area, accused of submitting nearly $270 million in fake Medi-Cal claims for costly drugs.
Among those charged is Christina Mareik, 61, also known as Christina Marie Sanchez Hernandez from Whittier. She is alleged to have facilitated fraudulent prescriptions leading to claims totaling over $178 million. These claims involved expensive drugs using low-cost generic ingredients and were often not medically necessary or never provided.
The scheme also implicated others like Oren David Shachar, 59, of Van Nuys, and Jeannie Choi, 57, of Torrance. They face a 16-count indictment for conspiring to defraud Medicare out of $27 million. Charges include conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, aggravated identity theft, and illegal financial transactions.