Federal Health Care Fraud Takedown Targets 455 Defendants and $6.5 Billion in False Claims

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Today, The Honorable R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced criminal charges against four defendants in connection with alleged schemes to defraud government health care benefits programs. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice's 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges include forgery and using fraudulent nursing credentials to Medicaid fraud.

"Every fraudulent claim diverts taxpayer dollars away from programs that are intended to support the health and well-being of American citizens," said U.S. Attorney Price. "Healthcare fraud not only depletes critical resources but also threatens the long-term sustainability of essential healthcare services. Today's enforcement action in the Western District of Missouri, along with coordinated efforts across the country conveys a strong message: individuals who engage in healthcare fraud will be identified, investigated, and held accountable for their actions."

The charges announced today 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.

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.

The following individuals were charged in the Western District of Missouri:

• Darcee Jo Heath, 38, of Linn Creek, Mo., was charged by complaint with forgery and using fraudulent nursing credentials. As alleged in the complaint, Heath forged and presented college records and a diploma claiming she graduated from a licensed practical nurse program in order to obtain employment at a hospital as a graduate practical nurse. The nurses responsible for overseeing Heath's work recognized her incompetence, which lead to an investigation and her termination. The case is being prosecuted by Camden County, Missouri Prosecutor Richelle Grosvernor and the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
  
  
• Romond E. Holt, 40, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged by complaint with false statement to receive a health care payment and stealing by deceit in connection with Medicaid fraud in the amount of $4,743.61. As alleged in the complaint, Holt submitted 32 claims for personal care services he purportedly provided to a Medicaid recipient between December 2023 and June 2024. These services were not provided because the Medicaid recipient was hospitalized and in long-term rehabilitation facilities during that time. The case is being prosecuted by Cole County Missouri, Prosecutor Wm. Locke Thompson and the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
  
  
• Carolyn S. McGinnis, 75, of Richmond, Mo., was charged by complaint with false statement to receive a health care payment and stealing by deceit in connection with Medicaid fraud in the amount of $3,022.94. As alleged in the complaint, McGinnis, a Medicaid recipient, submitted 35 false claims purporting that her personal care attendant, S.M., was providing personal care services to McGinnis at McGinnis's home. In fact, S.M. was not providing services and McGinnis was not living at home. The case is being prosecuted by Cole County Missouri, Prosecutor Wm. Locke Thompson and the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
  
  
• Kevin E. Oliver, 30, of Independence, Mo., was charged by complaint with false statement to receive a health care payment and stealing by deceit in connection with Medicaid fraud in the amount of $6,171.40. As alleged in the complaint, Oliver filed 82 fraudulent claims with Medicaid purporting to have provided personal care services to Medicaid recipient, P.O., from January to July 2024. However, P.O. was hospitalized or in a long-term rehabilitation facility on the dates of service falsely claimed by Oliver. The case is being prosecuted by Cole County, Missouri Prosecutor Wm. Locke Thompson and the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Nationally, 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.

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

National Fraud Enforcement Division

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on 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.

Charges contained in any indictment, information, or complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

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