Northern District of Texas Charges 13 Health Care Fraudsters for Loss Over $360 Million

Thirteen defendants were among those charged in the Northern District of Texas as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould, during a press conference held earlier today.

The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Raybould 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.

Today's coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:

• Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 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 ("HHS-OIG") 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.
• 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.

Contributing to the nationwide crackdown, the Northern District of Texas is prosecuting defendants in seven separate cases for crimes that targeted vulnerable patients and exploited taxpayer-funded programs. The Northern District of Texas cases represent collective fraudulent billing of more than $365 million submitted to federally-funded programs and other insurers. The defendants allegedly misappropriated funds intended to serve vulnerable populations-including elderly Medicare beneficiaries and members of the military-to further their own financial interests. The government seized over $35 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets as part of the coordinated enforcement efforts. Those charged include:

• Devin Brodman of Coconut Creek, Florida;
• Kevin Curry of Frisco, Texas;
• Olubayo Idowu of DeSoto, Texas, James Lou Carlisle Jr. of Southlake, Texas, and Vaughn Anthony Brozek of Hurst, Texas;
• Catherine Maduka of Garland, Texas;
• Jason Charles Mareno of Irving, Texas, David Lee Lloyd of Meridian, Mississippi, Jason Kashou of Coral Springs, Florida, and Duc Ngoc Ly a/k/a Michael Ly of Frisco, Texas;
• Michael McMillan of Las Vegas, Nevada; and
• Neel Vivek Paithankar of Irving, Texas.

"My office is committed to protecting victims and combating fraud against the United States wherever it is found," United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould said. "Today's announcement sends a message that no quarter will be given to fraudsters and those who prey on vulnerable members of our community in the Northern District of Texas. It also serves as a reminder that medical professionals who violate the trust society places in them and exploit Americans for personal enrichment will be aggressively pursued and held accountable. My office's participation in the National Health Care Fraud Takedown reflects our decentralized approach to pursuing fraud across the entirety of the Northern District and highlights the growing partnership we have with Main Justice and the investigating agencies in these efforts to protect victims and the public fisc."

"Today's takedown underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting federal health care programs and the patients they serve," said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "These individuals didn't just steal taxpayer money; they preyed on vulnerable patients and attacked the very foundation of public trust. Working alongside our partners, HHS-OIG will relentlessly pursue anyone who seeks to defraud federal health care programs and ensure they are brought to justice."

"The perpetrators of these fraud schemes billed Medicare and Medicaid for services that were either unnecessary or that were never provided to patients, in order to personally profit off of government-sponsored healthcare programs. These programs provide critical care and services to individuals in our communities that need it most," said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify and investigate individuals responsible for defrauding government programs, costing taxpayers tens of billions of dollars annually."

"Today's takedown sends a clear and unified message: individuals who exploit TRICARE or other federal healthcare programs will face swift and decisive action," said Special Agent in Charge Chad Gosch of the Department of War Office of Inspector General's Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). "Those who siphon resources from our service members, veterans, and vulnerable beneficiaries undermine mission readiness, drive up healthcare costs, and erode public trust. DCIS, in close coordination with our federal partners, will continue to aggressively identify, investigate, and dismantle illegal schemes that target TRICARE and other government healthcare systems for personal gain."

"Through the tenacious work of our investigators, auditors, and inspectors, the VA OIG plays a vital role in combating healthcare fraud throughout the country," said Inspector General Cheryl L. Mason, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. "Healthcare schemes steal taxpayer dollars and divert critical resources away from veterans. The VA OIG will vigorously investigate anyone who seeks to defraud VA programs."

"My office has worked tirelessly to expose and end fraud, and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for the people of Texas. I will continue to work to find and stop fraud to protect Texans' hard-earned dollars and ensure their tax dollars are not wasted or abused," said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Those charged in the Northern District of Texas as part of the historic Takedown include:

• Devin Jack Brodman, 32, of Coconut Creek, Florida, was charged by information with conspiracy to defraud the United States and paying and receiving kickbacks in connection with the submission of fraudulent claims by two North Texas labs to Medicare for laboratory testing services, including genetic testing. As alleged in the Information, Brodman, who co-owned Neva Diagnostics and Areahou Diagnostics, billed Medicare for laboratory testing services that were ineligible for reimbursement and were ordered and procured through kickbacks and bribes. He allegedly concealed the submission of the fraudulent claims to Medicare. In total, the two labs billed Medicare approximately $65 million for laboratory testing services and were paid approximately $43 million. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Texas Attorney General's Office - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marty Basu of the Northern District of Texas.
• Kevin Darnell Curry, 63, of Frisco, Texas, was charged by indictment with health care fraud, offer and payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes, and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property in connection with a scheme to defraud TRICARE by fraudulently billing for transcranial magnetic stimulation ("TMS") treatments that he knew were not provided, not provided as represented, medically unnecessary, induced by the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes, and/or otherwise ineligible for reimbursement by TRICARE. As alleged in the indictment, Curry, owner and operator of Acuity TMS, submitted and caused the submission of approximately $26,878,282 in false and fraudulent claims to TRICARE, of which approximately $17,075,566 was paid. Assets valued at approximately $200,000 were seized as part of the case, including $136,022 in cash and a 2024 gold Tesla Cybertruck Curry purchased with proceeds from his fraudulent scheme. The Department of War's Criminal Investigative Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and Texas Attorney General's Office - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Womble of the Northern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Yael Mash of the Texas Strike Force.
• Dr. Olubayo Idowu, 75, of Desoto, Texas, Dr. James Lou Carlisle Jr., 53, of Southlake, Texas, and Vaughn Anthony Brozek, 56, of Hurst, Texas, were charged by superseding indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud Medicare and other health care benefit programs through the submission of more than $25 million in false and fraudulent medical claims for electroencephalography ("EEG") testing. As alleged in the superseding indictment, Idowu and Carlisle, both physicians, and Brozek, a nurse practitioner, conspired to unlawfully enrich themselves from 2020 until at least 2023 by accepting kickbacks and bribes for patient EEG testing that was medically unnecessary. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Texas Attorney General's Office - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and Department of War's Defense Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Douglas B. Brasher of the Northern District of Texas.
• Catherine Nkeiru Maduka, 66, of Garland, Texas, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud in connection with a hospice scheme, which resulted in over $3.1 million in false claims being submitted to Medicare. As alleged in the indictment, Maduka, the owner and CEO of Saint Catherine's Hospice, recruited patients who were ineligible for hospice care and billed Medicare for services that were never provided. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and Texas Attorney General's Office - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Douglas B. Brasher of the Northern District of Texas.

• Jason Charles Mareno, 52, of Irving, Texas, David Lee Lloyd, 56, of Meridian, Mississippi, Jason Kashou, 40, of Coral Springs, Florida, and Duc Ngoc Ly, a/k/a Michael Ly, 52, of Frisco, Texas, were charged by superseding indictment with conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute in connection with a scheme to bill Medicare for COVID-19 test kits. As alleged in the superseding indictment, the defendants provided Medicare beneficiary information to two coconspirators who own lab businesses, who in turn used that information to bill Medicare for COVID-19 test kits they sent to the beneficiaries who had not requested them and in some cases to beneficiaries who were deceased. The lab owners then kicked back a portion of the Medicare reimbursement to the defendants in cash and through a series of financial transactions designed to conceal the kickbacks. As a result of the scheme, the defendant and their coconspirators caused more than $73 million in fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare for COVID-19 test kits. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Department of War's Defense Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Douglas B. Brasher of the Northern District of Texas.

• Michael McMillan, 55, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was charged by indictment with health care fraud, offer and payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes, and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property in connection with the submission of approximately $268 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and other government healthcare benefit programs related to wound care products. As alleged in the indictment, McMillan, the owner of Protectus LLC and related entities, offered various skin substitute products to physicians and medical providers under an illegal kickback arrangement that guaranteed that medical providers profited thousands of dollars for every skin substitute claim the providers billed the government programs. Disguising the kickbacks as rebates or discounts, McMillan and Protectus received approximately $174 million. Assets valued at approximately $35 million were seized as part of the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Department of War's Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Marty Basu and Chad Meacham of the Northern District of Texas.

• Neel Vivek Paithankar, 25, of Irving, Texas, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud in connection with a scheme to submit approximately $2.3 million of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment ("DME"). As alleged in the indictment, Paithankar, owner of VMP Health Care LLC, facilitated the solicitation of Medicare beneficiaries through telemarketers posing as Medicare representatives offering free DME. He then shipped the DME to Medicare beneficiaries who either did not need and/or did not want the products. In total, VMP Health Care LLC submitted approximately 3,700 false claims to Medicare, for which Medicare paid $1.2 million. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elise Aldendifer of the Northern District of Texas.

Descriptions of each case involved in today's enforcement action are available on the Department's website here.

An information or indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.