Two Los Angeles-area residents have been arrested on charges related to an alleged $54 million Medicare fraud and money laundering scheme involving imaging services that were never provided.

Sophia Shaklian, 36, of Los Angeles, and Alex Alexsanian, 47, of Burbank, are accused of submitting fraudulent Medicare claims through various healthcare businesses, receiving over $23 million in reimbursements, and laundering the proceeds.

According to the indictment, Shaklian managed multiple companies, including the Pasadena-based Chateau d’Lumina Hospice and Palliative Care and several diagnostic testing providers in Los Angeles County, under aliases. The indictment asserts these companies submitted false claims between March 2019 and August 2024.
Shaklian allegedly transferred Medicare reimbursements to accounts under a fake identity.

Alexsanian, meanwhile, is accused of conspiring with a foreign national to control companies like Saint George Radiology in Sylmar and Console Hospice in Van Nuys, using them to submit fraudulent claims. Alexsanian also allegedly used laundered Medicare funds to purchase more than $6 million in gold bars and coins.

If convicted, Shaklian faces up to 10 years in prison for each healthcare fraud count and up to 20 years for each money laundering charge. Alexsanian faces up to 20 years for each money laundering-related count.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Williams is prosecuting. All charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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