{
  "review_date": "2026-10-12",
  "california_mfcu": [
    {
      "year": 2018,
      "fraud_indictments_charges": 146,
      "fraud_convictions": 113,
      "source_url": "https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/medicaid-fraud-control-units/10836/FY_2018_MFCU_Statistical_Chart.xlsx",
      "source_file": "sources/mfcu-2018.xlsx",
      "sheet": "Statistical Chart",
      "charges_cell": "F7",
      "convictions_cell": "I7"
    },
    {
      "year": 2019,
      "fraud_indictments_charges": 105,
      "fraud_convictions": 90,
      "source_url": "https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/medicaid-fraud-control-units/10837/FY_2019_MFCU_Statistical_Chart.xlsx",
      "source_file": "sources/mfcu-2019.xlsx",
      "sheet": "Sheet0",
      "charges_cell": "F7",
      "convictions_cell": "I7"
    },
    {
      "year": 2020,
      "fraud_indictments_charges": 75,
      "fraud_convictions": 69,
      "source_url": "https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/medicaid-fraud-control-units/10838/FY_2020_MFCU_Statistical_Chart.xlsx",
      "source_file": "sources/mfcu-2020.xlsx",
      "sheet": "Statistical Chart",
      "charges_cell": "F7",
      "convictions_cell": "I7"
    },
    {
      "year": 2021,
      "fraud_indictments_charges": 41,
      "fraud_convictions": 53,
      "source_url": "https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/medicaid-fraud-control-units/10825/FY_2021_MFCU_Statistical_Chart.xlsx",
      "source_file": "sources/mfcu-2021.xlsx",
      "sheet": "Statistical Chart",
      "charges_cell": "F7",
      "convictions_cell": "I7"
    },
    {
      "year": 2022,
      "fraud_indictments_charges": 49,
      "fraud_convictions": 42,
      "source_url": "https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/medicaid-fraud-control-units/10826/FY_2022_MFCU_Statistical_Chart.xlsx",
      "source_file": "sources/mfcu-2022.xlsx",
      "sheet": "Statistical Chart",
      "charges_cell": "F7",
      "convictions_cell": "I7"
    },
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "fraud_indictments_charges": 37,
      "fraud_convictions": 56,
      "source_url": "https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/medicaid-fraud-control-units/10827/FY_2023_MFCU_Statistical_Chart.xlsx",
      "source_file": "sources/mfcu-2023.xlsx",
      "sheet": "Statistical Chart",
      "charges_cell": "F7",
      "convictions_cell": "I7"
    },
    {
      "year": 2024,
      "fraud_indictments_charges": 32,
      "fraud_convictions": 40,
      "source_url": "https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/evaluation/10223/FY2024%20Statistical%20Chart_Table_protected.xlsx",
      "source_file": "sources/mfcu-2024.xlsx",
      "sheet": "FY 2024 MFCU Statistical Chart",
      "charges_cell": "F7",
      "convictions_cell": "I7"
    },
    {
      "year": 2025,
      "fraud_indictments_charges": 56,
      "fraud_convictions": 33,
      "source_url": "https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/evaluation/11556/Statistical_Chart_-_2025.xlsx",
      "source_file": "sources/mfcu-2025.xlsx",
      "sheet": "MFCU Statistical Chart",
      "charges_cell": "F7",
      "convictions_cell": "I7"
    }
  ],
  "national_hcf_unit": [
    {
      "year": 2018,
      "individuals_charged": 309,
      "guilty_pleas": 180,
      "individuals_convicted_at_trial": 25,
      "convictions_total": 205,
      "trials": 17,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/file/1123566/download",
      "source_pdf_pages": [
        11
      ],
      "historical_trial_counts_source": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1339231/dl#page=22"
    },
    {
      "year": 2019,
      "individuals_charged": 344,
      "guilty_pleas": 159,
      "individuals_convicted_at_trial": 24,
      "convictions_total": 183,
      "trials": 21,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/file/1245236/download",
      "source_pdf_pages": [
        18
      ],
      "historical_trial_counts_source": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1339231/dl#page=22"
    },
    {
      "year": 2020,
      "individuals_charged": 167,
      "guilty_pleas": 134,
      "individuals_convicted_at_trial": 10,
      "convictions_total": 144,
      "trials": 9,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/file/1370171/download",
      "source_pdf_pages": [
        18
      ],
      "historical_trial_counts_source": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1339231/dl#page=22"
    },
    {
      "year": 2021,
      "individuals_charged": 202,
      "guilty_pleas": 192,
      "individuals_convicted_at_trial": 13,
      "convictions_total": 205,
      "trials": 15,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/file/1472076/dl",
      "source_pdf_pages": [
        16
      ],
      "historical_trial_counts_source": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1339231/dl#page=22"
    },
    {
      "year": 2022,
      "individuals_charged": 158,
      "guilty_pleas": 179,
      "individuals_convicted_at_trial": 38,
      "convictions_total": 217,
      "trials": 38,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/file/1568606/dl",
      "source_pdf_pages": [
        22
      ],
      "historical_trial_counts_source": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/file/1568606/dl"
    },
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "individuals_charged": 143,
      "guilty_pleas": 150,
      "individuals_convicted_at_trial": 36,
      "convictions_total": 186,
      "trials": 36,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1339231/dl",
      "source_pdf_pages": [
        6,
        22,
        25
      ],
      "historical_trial_counts_source": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1339231/dl"
    },
    {
      "year": 2024,
      "individuals_charged": 147,
      "guilty_pleas": 144,
      "individuals_convicted_at_trial": 21,
      "convictions_total": 165,
      "trials": 19,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1385111/dl",
      "source_pdf_pages": [
        6,
        30
      ],
      "historical_trial_counts_source": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1385111/dl"
    },
    {
      "year": 2025,
      "individuals_charged": 194,
      "guilty_pleas": 131,
      "individuals_convicted_at_trial": 19,
      "convictions_total": 150,
      "trials": 17,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1425226/dl",
      "source_pdf_pages": [
        6,
        28
      ],
      "historical_trial_counts_source": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1425226/dl"
    }
  ],
  "selected_national_takedowns": [
    {
      "year": 2018,
      "defendants": 601,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/national-health-care-fraud-takedown-results-charges-against-601-individuals-responsible"
    },
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "defendants": 78,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1339231/dl"
    },
    {
      "year": 2024,
      "defendants": 193,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/national-health-care-fraud-enforcement-action-results-193-defendants-charged-and-over-275-0"
    },
    {
      "year": 2025,
      "defendants": 324,
      "source_url": "https://www.oig.hhs.gov/newsroom/media-materials/2025-national-health-care-fraud-takedown/"
    },
    {
      "year": 2026,
      "defendants": 455,
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/national-health-care-fraud-takedown-results-455-defendants-charged-connection-over-65"
    }
  ],
  "california_cases": [
    {
      "name": "Operation Skip Trace",
      "event_date": "2026-04-09",
      "jurisdiction": "California state prosecution, Los Angeles",
      "status": "Charges announced against 21 suspects in three complaints",
      "summary": "Prosecutors allege roughly $267 million in fraudulent Medi-Cal billings through 14 hospice companies, using stolen identities and straw owners.",
      "source": "skip-trace",
      "trial_status": "Current trial date and subsequent dispositions require a current docket.",
      "source_url": "https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-dismantles-los-angeles-hospice-fraud-ring-responsible-267",
      "review_date": "2026-10-12"
    },
    {
      "name": "United States v. Oren David Shachar, Jeannie Choi and Abraham Shin",
      "event_date": "2026-06-23",
      "jurisdiction": "Central District of California; 2:26-cr-00393-SB",
      "status": "Conspiracy and related charges announced",
      "summary": "The indictment alleges approximately $27.7 million in hospice claims and $26.9 million paid, involving four hospice businesses, kickbacks and enrollment of already-deceased beneficiaries.",
      "source": "shachar",
      "trial_status": "A contemporary news report gave an August 11 setting. October 12 trial-in-progress status remains unverified; the retrieved October 13 Blumenfeld calendar lists other cases.",
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/health-care-fraud-takedown-results-10-socal-defendants-federally-charged-defrauding",
      "review_date": "2026-10-12"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lynn Galbraith / Azure Hospice Care",
      "event_date": "2026-08-27",
      "jurisdiction": "Central District of California",
      "status": "Guilty plea to health care fraud; December 3 sentencing announced",
      "summary": "DOJ reports about $2.27 million in false claims and $2.14 million paid for hospice services involving ineligible beneficiaries.",
      "source": "galbraith",
      "trial_status": "Plea entered. Sentencing date is as reported in the August release.",
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/anaheim-woman-pleads-guilty-submitting-more-22-million-fraudulent-hospice-care-claims",
      "review_date": "2026-10-12"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cindy Justice and Ashleigh Davis / PureScience Rx",
      "event_date": "2026-03-26",
      "jurisdiction": "Southern District of California",
      "status": "Jury convictions after an 11-day trial",
      "summary": "The Poway pharmacy owner and operations manager were convicted of health care fraud, illegal kickbacks and conspiracy, involving medically unnecessary prescription drugs marketed as footbath treatments.",
      "source": "justice-davis",
      "trial_status": "Trial concluded with verdicts on March 26.",
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/federal-jury-finds-mother-and-daughter-guilty-medicare-fraud-scheme-and-payment",
      "review_date": "2026-10-12"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nouman Mustafa and Mohsin Khan",
      "event_date": "2026-09-30",
      "jurisdiction": "Eastern District of California",
      "status": "September 17 indictment announced September 30",
      "summary": "Prosecutors allege more than $3.5 million in fraudulent Medicare durable-medical-equipment claims through shell companies.",
      "source": "mustafa-khan",
      "trial_status": "The release describes charging and initial appearances. Current trial date remains unverified.",
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/pakistani-nationals-residing-bakersfield-and-los-angeles-county-charged-scheme-defraud",
      "review_date": "2026-10-12"
    },
    {
      "name": "Simon Katz / HealthNow",
      "event_date": "2026-07-22",
      "jurisdiction": "Northern District of California",
      "status": "Jury conviction after a six-day trial",
      "summary": "DOJ describes false claims, unqualified staff and false records. The conduct discussed includes October 2018–November 2020; the verdict arrived in July 2026.",
      "source": "katz",
      "trial_status": "Trial concluded. The July 23 release said sentencing had yet to be scheduled.",
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/ceo-bay-area-home-health-agency-convicted-health-care-fraud-conspiracy-targeting",
      "review_date": "2026-10-12"
    }
  ],
  "definitions": {
    "california": "California MFCU fraud category only. Fiscal years. Charges count persons/entities and encompass several charging instruments. Convictions follow OIG reporting conventions.",
    "national": "DOJ Health Care Fraud Unit only. Calendar years. Includes opioid-related prosecutions. Annual reports may include prior sealed matters when unsealed.",
    "takedown": "Selected coordinated enforcement events. Each event has its own participant and offense scope."
  }
}