Criminal Defense and Civil Forfeiture Blog

Published on: October 9, 2020

South Florida Prosecutors Charge 11 Individuals in Telemedicine Fraud Scheme that Stole Millions from Health Insurers

10 South Florida residents and one Boston man have been charged in Fort Lauderdale federal court for their alleged role in a massive nationwide telemedicine scheme that bilked insurance companies out of millions of dollars for unnecessary prescription medication. They are accused of soliciting patients, prescribing them unneeded compound medications for purported injuries, and then billing their health insurance providers for the unnecessary services. It is unclear if any of the defendants has hired an attorney.

Published on: October 8, 2020

Texas Man Charged in $24 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud

by Brian Silber

The U.S. Department of Justice filed an indictment Thursday charging a Dallas-area man for his alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking approximately $24.8 million from a federal COVID-19 relief program.

Dinesh Sah, 55, of Coppell, TX, was charged with three counts of wire fraud, three counts of bank fraud, and one count of money laundering. He was arrested on September 16 and remains in custody. The press did not name an attorney for him.

Published on: October 6, 2020

Hawaiian Defense Contractor Arrested for Bilking $12.8 Million Out of Federal COVID-19 Relief Aid Program

by Brian Silber

A Hawaiian defense contractor was arrested and charged on September 30 for allegedly bilking a federal coronavirus relief aid program out of $12.8 million.

Martin Kao, 47, was charged with two counts of bank fraud and five counts of money laundering. The press did not name an attorney for him.

Published on: October 6, 2020

South Florida Rapper and Pennsylvania Man Charged for Role in $24 Million COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme

by Brian Silber

In one of the country’s largest coronavirus (COVID-19) relief fraud schemes, a South Florida rapper and a Pennsylvania tow truck operator have been accused of pocketing millions of dollars from a federal loan program meant for businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Diamond Blue Smith, 36, of Miramar, FL, and Tonye C. Johnson, 28, of Flourtown, PA, were charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Attorney information was not available at the time of writing.

Published on: October 2, 2020

Three Michigan Pharmacists Charged in Scheme to Defraud $9.2 Million from Insurers

by Brian Silber

A grand jury in Detroit has returned an indictment charging three Michigan residents for their alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud insurance companies by billing them for medication that was never dispensed.

Wansa Nabih Makki, 42, of Dearborn; her brother, Mahmoud Makki, 37, of Dearborn; and her husband Hossam Tanana, 54, of Dearborn, were each charged with multiple health care fraud and money laundering offenses. Wansa Makki was additionally charged with making a false statement to the Internal Revenue Service after she falsely claimed to be a pharmacist in her tax returns. It is unclear if any of the defendants have acquired legal counsel.