WASHINGTON - Eleven people have been indicted in the second phase of a targeted criminal, civil and administrative effort against individuals and health care companies that fraudulently bill the Medicare program, reported Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Alice S. Fisher and U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Thomas P. O'Brien.

The indictments in the Central District of California resulted from the creation of a multi-agency team of federal, state and local investigators designed specifically to combat Medicare fraud through the use of real-time analysis of Medicare billing data. The first phase of the strike force began operating in Miami-Dade County on March 1, 2007, and has secured more than 100 convictions to date related to fraudulent Medicare billing.

Since phase two of strike force operations began in Los Angeles on March 1, 2008, the strike force has obtained indictments of individuals and organizations that collectively have made almost $13 million in fraudulent claims to the Medicare program. Charges brought against the defendants in these indictments include conspiracy to commit health care fraud, advising or participating in a scheme to defraud a health care benefit program and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, many of the defendants face up to ten years in prison. All indictments also seek forfeiture of the criminal proceeds.
"The indictment of 11 defendants and execution of six warrants mark phase two of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force which focuses resources to target Medicare fraud ­[<00AD>]as it is occurring. The Strike Force has been successful in recovering millions of dollars that were bilked from the Medicare program and in convicting more than 100 wrongdoers in Miami," said Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Alice S. Fisher. "We are pleased to be working with our partners in Los Angeles to investigate and prosecute those who attempt to defraud the Medicare program. And I thank the leaders of the Strike Force, Kirk Ogrosky and John Kelly, as well as all the prosecutors and agents who continue to dedicate themselves to combating fraud."

"Medicare fraud is a significant problem in Southern California, which is why we have welcomed Justice Department attorneys to join forces with our health care fraud prosecutors," said United States Attorney for the Central District of California Thomas P. O'Brien. "The strike force approach to this long-running problem signals our intention to root out criminals who rob taxpayers and strip resources that should go to deserving beneficiaries of the Medicare program."

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