TDI investigation helps stop $400 million Medicare fraud scheme, suspect faces up to 20 years

A Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) investigator and crime analyst played a key role in stopping a Russian national who filed $400 million in fake Medicare claims.

Nikolai Buzolin was living in Houston in 2025 when he created a durable medical equipment company and stole patients' and doctors' identities to submit fake claims to health plans that administer Medicare Part C. He opened eight bank accounts to deposit the $1.7 million he received in reimbursements.

"A few of the patients checked their explanation of benefits and noticed that they were getting medical equipment that they didn't need. And it was coming from doctors they'd never met," said TDI Fraud Unit investigator, Sgt. Kevin Mannion.

Buzolin appeared in court March 5 and faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

Mannion is part of the FBI Task Force in Houston that surveilled and investigated Buzolin. Once they had enough information to arrest Buzolin, the Task Force went to his house in Houston, but the suspect had already fled. A TDI crime analyst then tracked his car to Los Angeles where local FBI agents arrested Buzolin as he was boarding a plane to Russia.

Mannion and the FBI also worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Texas Office of the Attorney General.

"TDI works with federal, state, and local partners to follow cases wherever they go, whether it's California or right here in Texas," said Mannion. "We track them down, we shut them down, and we help dismantle these criminal activities."

If you suspect insurance fraud, call TDI's Help Line at 800-252-3439 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time.