Los Angeles, California - Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced Wednesday a health care fraud enforcement action in the state of California, involving charges brought against a total of 26 individuals in the Central District of California for their alleged involvement in Medicare and Medicaid fraud schemes resulting in $257 million in billings.  Of those charged, 14 were doctors or medical professionals.    In addition, in the states of Arizona and Oregon, eight defendants, including three licensed medical professionals, have been charged with defrauding the Medicaid program out of over $1 million.

Washington, DC - The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that compounding pharmacy Diabetic Care Rx LLC, or Patient Care America (PCA), PCA’s Chief Executive Officer Patrick Smith, PCA’s former Vice President of Operations Matthew Smith, and private equity firm Riordan, Lewis & Haden Inc. (RLH) have agreed to resolve a lawsuit alleging that they violated the False Claims Act through their involvement in a kickback scheme to generate referrals of prescriptions for expensive pain creams, scar creams, and vitamins, regardless of patient need, which were reimbursed by TRICARE, the federal health care program for military members and their families.

Washington, DC - The Justice Department announced Wednesday a coordinated health care fraud enforcement operation across the state of Texas, involving charges against a total of 58 individuals across all four federal districts in Texas for their alleged involvement in Medicare fraud schemes and networks of “pill mill” clinics resulting in $66 million in losses and 6.2 million pills.  Of those charged, 16 were doctors or medical professionals, and 20 were charged for their role in diverting opioids.

Washington, DC - The United States Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Edward Snowden, a former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA), who published a book entitled Permanent Record in violation of the non-disclosure agreements he signed with both CIA and NSA.

Arlington, Virginia - A Maryland political consultant pleaded guilty Tuesday to wire fraud as a result of his fraudulent scheme to solicit millions of dollars in political contributions through several scam-PACs that he founded and advertised as supporting candidates for office and other political causes.

New York - The Department announced the arrest of Zhongsan Liu, who was charged by complaint for his involvement in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain U.S. visas for Chinese government employees.  Liu was arrested last week in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and presented in Manhattan federal court before the U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.