Four Charged in New Hampshire as Part of National Health Care Fraud Takedown

Four Charged in New Hampshire as Part of National Health Care Fraud Takedown

Today, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announced criminal charges against 4 defendants as part of the Department of Justice's 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare for durable medical equipment, theft of a United States citizen's identity to obtain Medicare and Medicaid benefits, and a pharmacist who diverted controlled substances while on the job.

"Protecting the integrity of our federal health care programs is an important priority," said U.S. Attorney Creegan. "The defendants charged today are alleged to have exploited systems meant to care for some of our most vulnerable community members. This conduct not only threatens the financial health of Medicare and Medicaid, it puts real people at risk. Working alongside our partners across the country, we will continue to pursue those who profit through fraud, theft, and the illegal diversion of controlled substances. Today's cases demonstrate that we will hold accountable those who seek to abuse our health care system."

The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Creegan 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 $1.2 billion telemedicine scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; seize over $182 million in cash, houses, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and provide 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 HHS-OIG under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended due to fraud before the funds were actually 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 Agency (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.

The following individuals were charged in the District of New Hampshire:

• Fructoso de Jesus Gomez Agudelo, a/k/a Jesus Gomez, 76, of Nashua, New Hampshire, was charged by indictment with wire fraud, false statements, false statements in health care matters, and aggravated identity theft in connection with his stealing a U.S. citizen's identity for over 20 years to apply for and obtain over $500,000 of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, housing, and SNAP benefits. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather M. Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen of the District of New Hampshire.
  
  
• Kakha Bendeliani, 48, of the country of Georgia, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a nationwide health care fraud scheme in which nearly $3 billion in claims were submitted to Medicare for durable medical equipment ("DME")-primarily urinary catheters-that was medically unnecessary and not provided as represented. As a result of those claims, Medicare and Medicare Supplemental Insurers paid at least approximately $12,589,770 to Bendeliani's company Centennial Med Supply LLC ("Centennial"). As alleged in the indictment, Bendeliani, the nominee owner of Centennial, allowed his personal information to be used by co-conspirators to purchase Centennial, took control of or established bank accounts for Centennial with at least six different financial institutions, and laundered the proceeds of health care fraud by withdrawing cashier's checks that hid the source of the funds from certain Centennial bank accounts, deposited them in other Centennial bank accounts, and soon after initiated wire transfers to transfer at least approximately $12,589,770 in health care fraud proceeds overseas. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Thomas D. Campbell and John W. Howard of the New England Strike Force, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew P. Vicinanzo of the District of New Hampshire.
  
  

• Goga Danelia, 37, of the country of Georgia, was charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a nationwide health care fraud scheme in which nearly $3 billion in claims were submitted to Medicare for durable medical equipment ("DME")-primarily urinary catheters-that was medically unnecessary and not provided as represented. As a result of those claims, Medicare and Medicare Supplemental Insurers paid the fraudulent DME company Centennial Med Supply LLC ("Centennial"). As alleged in the complaint, Danelia assisted the nominee owner of Centennial in laundering proceeds of health care fraud by providing driving and English translation services for Centennial's nominee owner while the nominee owner (1) opened accounts for Centennial at several different financial institutions; (2) withdrew health care fraud proceeds from the banks in the form of cashier's checks; (3) deposited those checks at other Centennial bank accounts; and (4) wired those funds to overseas entities. At least approximately $13 million was wired abroad from the Centennial accounts. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Thomas D. Campbell and John W. Howard of the New England Strike Force, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew P. Vicinanzo of the District of New Hampshire.

• Rima Gerges-Maalouf, 60, of Massachusetts, was charged by information with diverting controlled prescription drugs while working as a pharmacist in New Hampshire. As set forth in the plea agreement, in August 2024, Gerges-Maalouf served as a per diem pharmacist at a pharmacy in northern New Hampshire. While on duty, Gerges-Maalouf removed capsuled medication powder and prescription pills that were meant for patients and kept them for her own use. Gerges-Maalouf ingested some of the controlled substances while at work at the pharmacy. In all, Ms. Gerges-Maalouf diverted approximately 147 pills or capsules containing prescription medications during August 2024. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo of the District of New Hampshire.
  
  

"Today's coordinated enforcement effort reflects our commitment to safeguarding the nation's health care system," said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "The conduct alleged in these cases undermines the integrity of programs that millions of Americans rely on, and HHS-OIG-working closely with our law enforcement partners-will continue to protect taxpayer-funded resources and ensure accountability for those who seek to exploit them."

"Looting money from Medicare and other federally funded health care programs strains the system and cheats the taxpayers who fund it. It isn't 'creative accounting,' it's a federal crime," said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Boston Division. "This is not the way to increase your take-home pay. The FBI is committed to fighting health care fraud, one case at a time, and working with our partners allows us to pool our resources, intelligence, and expertise against doctors and other medical professionals who have chosen to put their own financial health ahead of their patients' well-being."

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.

The District of New Hampshire, in particular, worked with the Department's Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and the following law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the Takedown: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Inspector General (FDA-OIG); the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG); the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG); the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USAD-OIG); and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG).

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.

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.