The Department of Justice pledged to hold accountable those who misused relief funds intended for Americans impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, and these recent sentencings serve as a reminder to their pledge. The DOJ announced that three individuals from Georgia— Macovian Doston, Shatara Hubbard, and Torella Wynn—were sentenced for their roles in a $30 million […]
The DOJ announced that Aylissa Glidewell, a 35-year-old from Kingsport, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire and mail fraud for her role in submitting fraudulent claims for COVID-19 employment tax credit refunds. According to the DOJ, Glidewell’s scheme involved filing fraudulent tax returns to claim COVID-19 employment tax credits, such as the Employee […]
On February 14, 2025, the Department of Justice announced that a Nevada woman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with COVID-19-related employment tax credits. According to court documents, Candies Goode-McCoy, of Las Vegas, was accused of working with others to submit tax returns that sought employment tax credits under the […]
On December 16, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a Texas physician pleaded guilty in connection with an alleged scheme involving over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests, which purportedly resulted in $5.5 million in fraudulent claims. According to court documents, Mark Mazzare, M.D., 57, of Tyler, Texas, participated in an arrangement where Medicare beneficiary identifiers (BINs) […]
The DOJ announced that Tyshion Nautese Hicks, of Vienna, Georgia, was just sentenced to 12 years in prison for her role in a $30 million COVID-19 unemployment scheme. Hicks, along with six co-conspirators, were indicted in 2022 for, amongst other things, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. During the COVID-19 pandemic, joint […]
On September 30, 2024, the Department of Justice announced that Zishan Alvi, a 45-year-old Illinois resident, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with a COVID-19 testing case. According to court documents, Alvi owned and operated a laboratory in Chicago that provided COVID-19 testing during the pandemic. The government alleged that claims […]
On August 29, 2024, the Department of Justice announced Roy L. Layne, an Arizona resident, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and filing a false refund claim with the IRS. Layne’s plea is connected to allegations that he submitted false applications for COVID-19 relief funds and sought substantial tax refunds based on incorrect information. […]
On June 24, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the sentencing of two pharmacy owners in a case involving allegations of false claims submitted to Medicare and subsequent money laundering. Peter Khaim, 44, and his brother Arkadiy Khaimov, 41, both from Forest Hills, New York, operated 16 pharmacies in the New York area, along with […]
The DOJ just announced that Kathleen Breault, a midwife at Sage-Femme Midwifery PLLC (Sage-Femme), has pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and its departments and agencies. Breault’s guilty plea came after she admitted her role in a scheme that involved distributing over 2,600 fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination record cards. According to the DOJ, […]
Although the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, the regulatory and legal fallout from the pandemic is far from over. Since the COVID public health emergency (PHE) expired in May 2023, various federal agencies, including HHS-OIG and the DOJ, have been investigating whether healthcare providers and suppliers followed the rules governing a number of COVID-era programs. […]
On April 10, the Department of Justice announced that a Louisiana woman, Melissa J. Watson of Slidell, pleaded guilty to theft of public money in connection with an alleged scheme to misappropriate over $780,000 from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), a COVID-19 relief program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration. Court documents suggest […]
Since 2020, Chilivis Grubman attorneys have closely monitored and documented indictments, guilty verdicts, and prison sentences tied to COVID-19 relief programs. Enforcement of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has spanned individuals and businesses nationwide, including NFL players, reality stars, business owners, and law enforcement personnel. Now, a California man has appeared in […]
On August 24, 2023, The Department of Justice announced the conviction of Ron Elfenbein, M.D., of Arnold, Maryland, for five counts of healthcare fraud. In a groundbreaking decision, Chief Judge James K. Bredar of the U.S. District Court for Maryland overturned the jury’s conviction of the well-known Maryland doctor. The case centered around allegations that […]
On December 11, the Department of Justice announced a California man, Keith Berman, CEO and sole director of Decision Diagnostics Corp. (DECN), pleaded guilty to securities fraud, wire fraud, and obstruction of an official proceeding. The charges are related to allegations that Berman made false and misleading statements about the development of a blood-based COVID-19 […]
Chilivis Grubman attorneys often remind readers that the False Claims Act (FCA) is not limited to any single industry. Any company or individual submitting claims for payment to the federal government faces the threat of FCA liability if those claims turn out to be false or fraudulent. The government has shown its willingness to use […]
Since 2020, Chilivis Grubman attorneys have tracked and written about indictments, guilty verdicts, and prison sentences related to COVID-19 relief programs. CG attorneys have cautioned that no person, despite fame or title, is immune to the government’s efforts. The government’s enforcement of the CARES Act has involved individuals and businesses across the country, including NFL […]
The DOJ just announced that Lourdes Navarro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Navarro now faces up to 20 years in prison for her role in a $359 million scheme the Government alleges exploited the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Court documents, from June 2020 to April 2020 Navarro obtained […]
Chilivis Grubman attorneys continue to highlight the government’s enforcement efforts regarding alleged COVID-19 fraud. The DOJ just announced that two New York brothers, Larry Jordan and Sutukh El, aka Curtis Jordan, aka Hugo Hurt, aka Hugo Hermes Hurtington, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud by scheming to file fraudulent […]
On August 17, 2023, Chilivis Grubman attorneys discussed a doctor that faces up to 50 years in prison for his alleged involvement in a COVID-19 healthcare fraud scheme. Chilivis Grubman has cautioned about and highlighted the government’s enforcement actions related to COVID-19 fraud, which has continued since the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) […]
The DOJ announced that Artur Chanchikyan, owner of home health agency Gentle Touch Home Health Care Inc. (Gentle Touch), pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining $345,108 in COVID-19 pandemic relief loans. According to the DOJ, Chanchikyan applied for a $160,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan on behalf of Gentle Touch around April 2020. Chanchikyan fabricated Gentle […]
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