12 arrested in South Florida in nationwide investigation into $6.5B health care fraud

June 26, 2026 - 05:05

Federal authorities have arrested 12 people in South Florida as part of a sweeping nationwide crackdown on health care fraud that prosecutors say totaled $6.5 billion in false claims. The local suspects are accused of stealing roughly $27 million from Medicaid and Medicare through a web of scams that included billing for fake therapy sessions and medical equipment that patients never needed or received.

The arrests stretched from Key West up to Fort Pierce, with officials seizing cash, luxury vehicles, and real estate bought with stolen taxpayer money. According to court documents, the schemes involved phony clinics that submitted claims for expensive braces, wheelchairs, and other durable medical equipment that was never delivered. In other cases, providers billed for hours of physical or occupational therapy that simply never happened.

The investigation is part of a larger federal effort that targeted more than 190 defendants across the country. Health and Human Services agents worked alongside the FBI and local police to track the money trail. In South Florida alone, investigators say the fraud ring operated for years, often using shell companies and fake patient records to avoid detection.

Prosecutors noted that the stolen funds could have paid for real care for thousands of seniors and disabled people. The 12 suspects now face charges including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, money laundering, and making false statements. Some have already appeared in federal court in Miami, while others are awaiting extradition from other states.