Full Breakdown
$118 Million Medicare Wound-Care Fraud Scheme Exposed in 2026 Health-Care Crackdown
6/26/2026, 5:18:20 AM
The Alleged $118 Million Wound-Care Fraud Scheme
Leigh Tesar, a 44-year-old nurse practitioner in Sarasota, Florida, is accused—along with two Tampa-Bay nurses, Walter Presha Jr. (Ellenton) and Koby Evans (Apollo Beach)—of orchestrating an 18-month scheme that billed Medicare for more than $118 million in skin-allograft and wound-care services. Prosecutors allege the grafts were unnecessary, applied to terminal patients, or never placed, while Presha and Evans received kickbacks for referring patients to Tesar.
Background: 2026 National Health-Care Fraud Takedown
The case is part of the Justice Department’s “2026 National Health-Care Fraud Takedown,” the largest coordinated effort to date. Federal and state investigators charged 455 individuals across 45 states with submitting false claims that total over $6.5 billion. The operation involved 56 federal districts, 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, and multiple task forces.
Key Figures
- Leigh Tesar – Nurse practitioner, alleged mastermind of the wound-care billing network.
- Walter Presha Jr. – Registered nurse, accused of receiving kickbacks for patient referrals.
- Koby Evans – Registered nurse, similarly charged with receiving referral kickbacks.
- Todd Blanche – Acting Attorney General, leading DOJ communications.
- Dr. Mehmet Oz – CMS Administrator, overseeing Medicare response.
Timeline of the Investigation
- Early 2025 – Scheme begins, targeting Medicare beneficiaries.
- Late 2026 (? June 8) – Federal raids commence, marking the start of the nationwide takedown.
- June 23, 2026 – DOJ holds a press conference announcing the 455-defendant sweep.
- June 24-25, 2026 – Media outlets publish details of the Florida wound-care case.
Data & Statistics
- $118 million billed for wound-care products.
- ? $61 million actually paid by Medicare (per indictment).
- $11.8 million seized in assets from the three Florida defendants.
- 455 total defendants, $6.5 billion in alleged false claims nationwide.
- 90 doctors and other licensed professionals among the charged.
Official Statements & Responses
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche called the takedown “the greatest combined federal and state effort in combating health-care fraud.” FBI Director Kash Patel warned that fraudsters “will be found” and held accountable. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the agency is shifting from “catch-up” to proactive data-analytics monitoring. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald emphasized that “no case is too big” for the fraud-fighting team, while Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. framed the crimes as theft from taxpayers and vulnerable patients.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The indictment cites $61 million paid, whereas other Florida filings reference $55 million in Medicare reimbursements for similar graft schemes, indicating a reporting discrepancy. The indictment does not disclose the exact number of patients affected, and all allegations remain unproven pending trial.
Why It Matters
If the allegations are true, Medicare funds intended for medically necessary care were diverted to profit-driven providers, endangering patients with unnecessary procedures and inflating federal health-care costs. The case underscores systemic vulnerabilities in claim verification and the need for robust analytics to protect both taxpayers and vulnerable populations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This announcement marks the greatest combined federal and state effort in combating health care fraud in history,” — Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General
- “Prosecuting criminals who steal from American patients is necessary – but stopping them before a single dollar leaves the building is smarter,” — Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator
- “CMS is done playing catch-up. We’re deploying advanced data analytics to expose fraud networks, freeze suspicious payments, and shut down bad actors before they can do damage to the programs that millions of Americans depend on.” — Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator
- “We are aggressively scaling our offensive against anyone using health care as a front to steal from the American people,” — Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General
- “These charges expose the staggering scale of fraud and money laundering that Transnational Criminal Organizations are willing to inflict on our health care system and the people of New Hampshire,” — Erin Creegan, U.S. Attorney, District of New Hampshire
What’s Next
The three Florida defendants face federal conspiracy and fraud charges that could result in decades of imprisonment and restitution orders. Prosecutors indicate that additional investigations into related wound-care networks are ongoing, and CMS plans to expand its analytics platform to flag suspicious graft claims before payment.
