13, including doctors, charged in North Texas healthcare fraud scheme, $365M in false claims

WFAA (DFW) ^ | 06/23/2026 | Krista Summerville

[DFG]

DALLAS — Federal prosecutors have charged 13 people in North Texas as part of a sweeping nationwide healthcare fraud crackdown involving billions of dollars in false claims.

The crackdown was a coordinated effort that included more than 450 defendants nationwide, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said in a news release. Investigators say the schemes involve more than $6.5 billion in fraudulent claims and, in some cases, led to serious patient harm.

In North Texas alone, prosecutors say the cases involve more than $365 million in fraudulent billing, targeting taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare and TRICARE. Authorities also seized more than $35 million in cash, vehicles and other assets tied to the investigations.

“My office has worked tirelessly to expose and end fraud, and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for the people of Texas. I will continue to work to find and stop fraud to protect Texans’ hard-earned dollars and ensure their tax dollars are not wasted or abused,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Federal officials seized more than $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry and other assets.

North Texas suspects and charges

Prosecutors say 63-year-old Kevin Curry, a Frisco resident, ran a scheme through his company, Acuity TMS, billing TRICARE for treatments that were never provided, medically unnecessary, or tied to illegal kickbacks.

Charged with: health care fraud, paying and receiving kickbacks, and money laundering Alleged fraud: nearly $27 million billed, about $17 million paid Seized assets include cash and a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck, investigators say, which was purchased with fraudulent proceeds

Investigators say two doctors, Dr. Olubayo Idowu, 75, of DeSoto, and 53-year-old Dr. James Carlisle Jr., of Southlake, worked with a nurse practitioner, 56-year-old Vaughn Brozek, to order unnecessary brain wave tests in exchange for kickbacks.

Charged with: conspiracy to commit health care fraud Alleged fraud: more than $25 million in false Medicare claims Scheme involved medically unnecessary EEG testing between 2020 and 2023

Authorities say 66-year-old Catherine Maduka operated a hospice company that billed Medicare for patients who did not qualify for end-of-life care.

Charged with: health care fraud and conspiracy Alleged fraud: more than $3.1 million in false claims Accused of enrolling ineligible patients and billing for services not provided

Along with two out-of-state co-defendants, prosecutors say 52-year-old Jason Mareno of Irving and 52-year-old Duc Ngoc Ly (Michael Ly), of Frisco, helped facilitate a scheme involving unwanted COVID-19 test kits.

Charged with: conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute Alleged fraud: more than $73 million in Medicare claims Investigators say patient information was used to send test kits people didn’t request — including some who were deceased — and kickbacks were paid in return

Prosecutors say 25-year-old Neel Vivek Paithankar, an Irving resident, used telemarketers posing as Medicare representatives to push unnecessary medical equipment.

Charged with: health care fraud and conspiracy Alleged fraud: about $2.3 million billed, $1.2 million paid Scheme involved shipping equipment patients didn’t need or want

Federal officials say the takedown also led to hundreds of provider suspensions nationwide and the seizure of more than $182 million in assets. Investigations remain ongoing.

[Liz]

Surprise...../s.

[Liz]

You were right the first time........lol.

[Frank Drebin]

At least it was spelled correctly.

[spintreebob]

Deloitte IES Integrated Eligibility System is the biggest fraudster and the one that makes much of the other Medicaid and ACA fraud possible. Deloitte IES is in more than half the states including CA,TX, FL, GA, IL, MI, PA, NY ...all the big states (not MN).

[Jacquerie]

Bondi set the table for these indictments.

[MayflowerMadam]

Maybe.