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Javaman

(65,428 posts)
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 01:30 PM Feb 3

Feds allege $3.4 billion Medicare fraud scheme tied to Russian citizen living in Austin

(3.4 billion by a Russian crook and not a peep in the national news)


https://www.kxan.com/investigations/feds-allege-3-4-billion-medicare-fraud-scheme-tied-to-russian-citizen-living-in-austin/

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Federal authorities say a Texas man helped orchestrate a health care fraud scheme that billed Medicare billions of dollars for medical equipment such as orthotic braces, glucose monitors, urinary catheters and wound dressings that patients often did not need and, in many cases, never received, according to a U.S. District Court criminal complaint uncovered by KXAN investigators.

Nika Machutadze, a Russian citizen who was living in Austin, is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering tied to the alleged fraud, which involved two durable medical equipment companies operating in Florida and Texas.

The federal court records do not identify the Florida-based company, however KXAN found Florida Secretary of State records show one business associated with Machutadze named Sunshine Senior Solutions, LLC.

According to the affidavit, one of the companies submitted claims to Medicare for more than 1.6 million items billed to over 220,000 beneficiaries nationwide, resulting in $3.33 billion in Medicare charges. Investigators say Medicare processed approximately $1.78 billion of those claims as paid before suspending reimbursements.

more at link...

29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Feds allege $3.4 billion Medicare fraud scheme tied to Russian citizen living in Austin (Original Post) Javaman Feb 3 OP
Red state... Russian... Fraud... Sounds like a Dotard pardon should be expected shortly. RockRaven Feb 3 #1
Just about to say the same, a pardon from Trump is basically a given here (nt) AZJonnie Feb 3 #6
Did Rick Scott change domiciles? Sailingdiver Feb 3 #2
So will ICE now invade Texas? pecosbob Feb 3 #3
ICE is already in Texas MagickMuffin Feb 3 #8
I bet there's less ICE agents in TX than in MN right now sboatcar Feb 3 #25
And that is by design, MN being a blue state and all MagickMuffin Feb 3 #26
Paging ICE you're needed in Texas Ritabert Feb 3 #4
Sad to inform you, ICE is already here in Texas MagickMuffin Feb 3 #7
I know. I was just commenting that if they're looking for fraud... Ritabert Feb 3 #10
Sunny states for markodochartaigh Feb 3 #18
They're still looking for the $16 million in Hurricane Ian donations Ritabert Feb 3 #22
Send in the armed thugs! progressoid Feb 3 #5
I doubt trump or abbott will request any additional Gestapo in TX Torchlight Feb 3 #9
Trump has issued a statement "I have never been to Machutadze Island." twodogsbarking Feb 3 #11
Awe come on, a Russian living in Texas committing fraud? Why would they think that? appleannie1 Feb 3 #12
The scumbag might get himself a presidential pardon dalton99a Feb 3 #13
He transferred the money overseas. Had purchased a plane ticket. Hell be in the wind once he makes bond BlueWaveNeverEnd Feb 3 #16
My Medicare was billed thousands of $ for a shitload (pee-load?) of catheters. 70sEraVet Feb 3 #14
Trump: here is your pardon. Have a nice life BlueWaveNeverEnd Feb 3 #15
Checks all the boxes - Russians, Chinese, UAE... bluedigger Feb 3 #17
Austin MN, that hotbed of statewide fraud Strelnikov_ Feb 3 #19
Not Minnesota? iemanja Feb 3 #20
So i wonder if trump will say Figarosmom Feb 3 #21
Did he register to vote, collect Medicaid and get SNAP, too? littlemissmartypants Feb 3 #23
I'm struggling trying to understand xuplate Feb 3 #24
Securing social programs against fraud... gulliver Feb 3 #27
Send them to a deportation camp. Sogo Feb 3 #28
Yeah, I was pretty sure the fraud wasn't being Luz Feb 3 #29

RockRaven

(18,963 posts)
1. Red state... Russian... Fraud... Sounds like a Dotard pardon should be expected shortly.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 01:36 PM
Feb 3

Bonus points for money laundering and scale (i.e. billions).

sboatcar

(800 posts)
25. I bet there's less ICE agents in TX than in MN right now
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 04:58 PM
Feb 3

The number of gestapo running around the streets here is unbelievable. They're getting more cowardly now though, often running back to their cars and getting out of there as soon as a crowd forms, which is almost instantly these days.

MagickMuffin

(18,242 posts)
26. And that is by design, MN being a blue state and all
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 05:16 PM
Feb 3


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May you be well, happy and at peace.
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BlueWaveNeverEnd

(13,472 posts)
16. He transferred the money overseas. Had purchased a plane ticket. Hell be in the wind once he makes bond
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:27 PM
Feb 3

While Medicare eventually suspended payments, supplemental insurers continued issuing reimbursements, allowing millions of dollars to flow into company bank accounts, according to the complaint. Authorities allege those funds were quickly transferred overseas, primarily to shell companies in Hong Kong, with little evidence of legitimate medical business expenses.


Machutadze is accused of conspiring with others to conceal the source of the proceeds through a network of domestic and foreign accounts. Investigators said they learned in January that he had purchased international airline tickets while the investigation was ongoing. According to federal court records, Machutadze’s destination was the United Arab Emirates.

70sEraVet

(5,360 posts)
14. My Medicare was billed thousands of $ for a shitload (pee-load?) of catheters.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:23 PM
Feb 3

A 'medical supply' company in Florida. I reported it to Medicare, and when the girl heard me mention a "medical supply company in Florida", she said, "Let me guess. Catheters."
This may be the guy!

Strelnikov_

(8,132 posts)
19. Austin MN, that hotbed of statewide fraud
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:43 PM
Feb 3

Oh, wait . . . it's Texas man.

And it seems Florida is throw in for good measure.


littlemissmartypants

(32,806 posts)
23. Did he register to vote, collect Medicaid and get SNAP, too?
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 04:16 PM
Feb 3

We're Russia Two now (pun intended) have you checked Pravda, where he's no doubt being celebrated?

xuplate

(179 posts)
24. I'm struggling trying to understand
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 04:23 PM
Feb 3

Why is it that the fraud detection algorithms VISA uses can spot a $35.00 discrepancy but Medicare can’t red flag millions and millions of dollars in fraud. No wonder we can’t afford health care.

gulliver

(13,810 posts)
27. Securing social programs against fraud...
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 05:22 PM
Feb 3

... is a core Democratic Party issue, imo. People who defraud safety net programs need long prison sentences.

I would even bring back hard labor just for them. Defraud Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid? Here's your hammer; there are some rocks. If, as in this alleged case, the perp is not a U.S. citizen, increase the length of the sentence. Then deport once time is served in full.

Sogo

(7,067 posts)
28. Send them to a deportation camp.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 05:24 PM
Feb 3

And then to the El Salvador prison. (I know, I know we supposedly don't use that anymore....)

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