A man accused of defrauding the US Medicare programme of more than $547 million has been arrested after more than three years on the run, authorities have announced.
Khalid Satary, 54, was captured in the Middle East on Monday following an international manhunt, according to the US Department of Justice. He had been wanted by the FBI over allegations that he led a scheme involving fraudulent claims for expensive and unnecessary genetic tests between 2016 and 2019.
Prosecutors allege Satary worked with patient recruiters, telemarketing companies and telemedicine providers to submit fake cancer genetic testing claims to Medicare, using deceptive marketing campaigns, illegal kickbacks and bribes. Authorities say the scheme resulted in more than $547 million being billed to the healthcare programme, with millions of dollars allegedly paid to doctors and recruiters.
Satary was indicted in 2019 on multiple charges, including healthcare fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and illegal kickback schemes. The FBI said he continued to be involved in fraudulent activity even after being released on bond with restrictions preventing him from working in the medical field. FBI Director Kash Patel described the arrest as another success for the agency’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List, which was launched in June.
READ ALSO: Stolen Cars from the US Traced to Ghana in FBI Operation
If convicted, Satary could face decades in prison, including up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, 10 years for healthcare fraud charges and five years for conspiracy related to illegal kickbacks. He is expected to be returned to the United States to face prosecution.
