A fugitive accused of orchestrating a scheme that defrauded Medicare of over $547 million has been apprehended, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Khalid Satary, 54, was arrested in the Middle East on Monday following an international manhunt.
Satary was indicted in the Eastern District of Louisiana in 2019 on charges related to a conspiracy that allegedly billed Medicare for expensive and medically unnecessary genetic tests between 2016 and 2019. Prosecutors allege that Satary worked with patient recruiters, telemarketing call centers, and telemedicine companies to generate fraudulent claims. These claims, often for genetic tests, were allegedly reimbursed by Medicare for up to $20,000 each.
Authorities stated that Satary is accused of submitting claims totaling over $547 million to Medicare and paying millions of dollars in kickbacks and bribes to doctors and patient recruiters. After his initial indictment, Satary was released on bond with a condition prohibiting him from working in the medical field. However, he allegedly continued his involvement by conspiring with laboratories in Houston, Texas, to submit fraudulent genetic testing claims.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Satary in 2022 when he failed to appear for a court hearing, and he is believed to have fled the country. He was apprehended on Monday by regional partners while possessing a fake Mexican passport under a false name. Satary was subsequently flown back to the U.S. and appeared in court in the Eastern District of Virginia on Tuesday.
He faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud, healthcare fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal healthcare kickbacks and bribes, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The FBI has listed Satary as one of its Most Wanted Fraudsters.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that Satary's arrest marks the third capture from the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters List within five weeks, characterizing it as a continuation of the initiative's success. Patel added that Satary exploited a program designed to help vulnerable individuals, instead stealing for personal gain. He noted the extensive coordination with interagency partners and overseas allies in apprehending the fugitive.
If convicted, Satary faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, 10 years for healthcare fraud and conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, and five years for conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive kickbacks.