Story perspectives

Justice Dept. Charges 455 in $6.5B Health Fraud Crackdown

6/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department’s 2026 Health Care Fraud Takedown, which charged 455 people in $6.5 billion schemes, is an effort to combat health-care fraud.
Federal prosecutors charged James Lou Carlisle Jr., Olubayo Idowu and Vaughn Brozek with EEG kickbacks.
Prosecutors indicted Dr. Jason Finkelstein for an $89 million scheme billing insurers for screenings and charged Dr. Murrell Carnel Rutledge Jr. with 40 fraud counts for $4.3 million Medicaid claims.

History

Historical Context

After Congress earmarked $100 million in 1997 for Medicare-fraud enforcement, the Department of Justice and HHS created the 2007 Medicare Fraud Strike Force and later the 2009 HEAT team to coordinate investigations. That interagency model underpins the 2026 Health Care Fraud Takedown, in which DOJ prosecutors have charged 455 defendants, including Dr. Jason Finkelstein and James Lou Carlisle Jr.

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Story summary

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department’s 2026 Health Care Fraud Takedown, which charged 455 people in $6.5 billion schemes, is an effort to combat health-care fraud.
Federal prosecutors charged James Lou Carlisle Jr., Olubayo Idowu and Vaughn Brozek with EEG kickbacks.
Prosecutors indicted Dr. Jason Finkelstein for an $89 million scheme billing insurers for screenings and charged Dr. Murrell Carnel Rutledge Jr. with 40 fraud counts for $4.3 million Medicaid claims.

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