U.S. Attorneys
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Senior Personnel At Telecommunications Company Charged With Multimillion Dollar Fraud Following Company Self-Report
NEW YORK, May 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York posted the following news release:
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Senior Personnel At Telecommunications Company Charged With Multimillion Dollar Fraud Following Company Self-Report
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United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging MOHD HAFIZ LOCKMAN, MOHD YUZAIMI YUSOF, and KHANH THUONG NGUYEN, three former senior employees
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NEW YORK, May 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York posted the following news release:
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Senior Personnel At Telecommunications Company Charged With Multimillion Dollar Fraud Following Company Self-Report
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United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging MOHD HAFIZ LOCKMAN, MOHD YUZAIMI YUSOF, and KHANH THUONG NGUYEN, three former senior employeesof Telekom Malaysia (USA) Inc., the wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia Berhad, with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The charges in the Indictment arise from an alleged scheme by the defendants to divert more than $20 million of company funds through four interconnected frauds. The defendants used false statements, forged records, fictitious transactions, and corporate and individual impersonations to deceive counterparties, suppliers, auditors, and supervisors. LOCKMAN was arrested on April 20, 2026, at San Francisco International Airport, and NGUYEN and YUSOF surrendered to authorities on April 22 and 23, respectively. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton also announced that the criminal conduct was reported by Telekom Malaysia Berhad to the U.S. Attorney's Office in early April 2026, and the company has been cooperating with the Office's ongoing investigation.
"Today's fraud charges come within weeks of receiving a self-report from the company," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "As alleged, Mohd Hafiz Lockman, Mohd Yuzaimi Yusof, and Khanh Thuong Nguyen perpetrated a sprawling fraud to steal over $20 million. The defendants deceived counterparties, suppliers, auditors, and their own supervisors. As a result of the fact that the conduct was reported to this Office and quickly investigated, the defendants will now be held to account for fraudulently lining their own pockets."
"These three individuals are alleged to have conducted a deliberate and calculated embezzlement scheme, falsifying corporate records for their own financial benefit," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. "These charges highlight the FBI's commitment to aggressively investigating and identifying fraud schemes that exploit the corporate system."
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and other public records of court proceedings: [1]
From July 2020 through February 2026, LOCKMAN, YUSOF, and NGUYEN were senior managers at Telekom Malaysia (USA) Inc. ("the American Subsidiary"), which is wholly owned by Telekom Malaysia Berhad (the "Parent Company," and, collectively with the American Subsidiary, "Telekom Malaysia"), a major telecommunications company in Malaysia. The American Subsidiary's primary business is selling access to broadband infrastructure to technology companies in the United States. The Parent Company approved major contracts of the American Subsidiary, relying on management of the American Subsidiary for information about U.S. deals.
While employed at the American Subsidiary, LOCKMAN, YUSOF, and NGUYEN pursued a multifaceted scheme to steal more than $20 million. First, they devised a scheme to sell Telekom Malaysia's broadband capacity without the Parent Company's authorization and to divert the proceeds of those sales to accounts under their control. For example, they requested Parent Company approval to sell eight terabytes of capacity to a multinational corporation headquartered in the United States ("U.S. Customer-1") for roughly $54 million, but, in reality, $54 million was the price the American Subsidiary charged U.S. Customer-1 for six terabytes of capacity, not eight. After receiving the Parent Company's approval, the defendants prepared two versions of the contract: one for U.S. Customer-1 that memorialized a sale of six terabytes, and another for the Parent Company that memorialized a sale of eight terabytes and that fraudulently bore signatures and initials of representatives of U.S. Customer-1, including one representative based in the United States. After misappropriating the excess two terabytes from the Parent Company, the defendants sold it for their own personal benefit to third parties, including a large U.S.-based internet services company and a subsidiary of a U.S.-based social media and technology company. To conceal those illicit sales from the Parent Company, and pocket the proceeds, the defendants executed the sales through a sham entity they incorporated with a name meant to look like the American Subsidiary's name, and directed payments to bank accounts in the name of that entity, which they controlled.
Second, LOCKMAN, YUSOF, and NGUYEN impersonated a supplier of goods for the American Subsidiary and captured payments the Parent Company intended for that supplier. In 2021, the American Subsidiary was to acquire a particular type of cable from the supplier and resell it to an affiliate of the Parent Company at a markup. Unbeknownst to the Parent Company, the defendants had caused the American Subsidiary to purchase the cable from the supplier for roughly $500,000. But the defendants falsely represented to the Parent Company that the American Subsidiary had paid roughly $2.9 million for the cable. The American Subsidiary sold the cable to the affiliate of the Parent Company for over $3 million, reflecting the markup, and the defendants then caused the American Subsidiary to transfer roughly $2.9 million-the amount that the American Subsidiary supposedly paid the supplier-to a bank account held by another sham entity with a name meant to look like the supplier's, but secretly controlled by the defendants. To accomplish this fraud, the defendants falsified several documents purportedly signed by individuals who the defendants represented were employees of the sham entity with the name substantially similar to the supplier's. In reality, those individuals were employees of the supplier, and the defendants had falsified their signatures.
Third, LOCKMAN, YUSOF, and NGUYEN impersonated employees and interns of the American Subsidiary and captured salaries intended for those employees and interns. For example, the defendants caused the American Subsidiary's records not to reflect the fact of a particular employee's departure in 2020, and, from August 2020 through May 2025, the defendants caused the American Subsidiary to pay that employee's monthly salary into a bank account that the defendants controlled. In 2025, the defendants finally recorded in the American Subsidiary's records that employee's departure, prompting Human Resources in Malaysia to request an exit interview with the employee. To sustain the fraud, the defendants recruited another individual to impersonate the employee during the exit interview. When Human Resources subsequently requested a video call, the defendants arranged for their imposter to disguise his appearance and bear the face of the departed employee through an artificial intelligence program.
Fourth, LOCKMAN, YUSOF, and NGUYEN sought reimbursements for fabricated work expenses. For instance, in January 2026, the defendants collaborated to request reimbursement for expenses incurred for a work trip that employees of the American Subsidiary supposedly made to Las Vegas in December 2025. In fact, no such trip occurred. When the Parent Company requested pictures from the trip, the defendants hastily organized a trip to Las Vegas and photographed scenes with Christmas trees to make it appear as though photographs had been taken in December.
Telekom Malaysia initiated an internal investigation of the American Subsidiary and the defendants. Upon discovering the fraud, Telekom Malaysia self-reported the conduct to the United States Attorney's Office and received a conditional declination of charges against the company based on the company's commitment to full cooperation, restitution, remediation of harm caused by the misconduct, and its agreement to report criminal conduct for a three-year period. Today's action reflects the Office's commitment to using self-reports as a means to quickly and effectively bring cases that hold individual executives accountable for their misconduct.
LOCKMAN, 48, of Dublin, California, YUSOF, 44, of Livermore, California, and NGUYEN, 48, of Manassas, Virginia, are charged with wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison.
The maximum and minimum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentences of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office's Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force and the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. DiBattista and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel P. Rothschild and Matthew Weinberg are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/senior-personnel-telecommunications-company-charged-multimillion-dollar-fraud
Illinois Doctor Agrees to Pay $62,500 for Signing False Orders in Durable Medical Equipment Scheme
BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release:
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Illinois Doctor Agrees to Pay $62,500 for Signing False Orders in Durable Medical Equipment Scheme
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An Illinois-based doctor has agreed to pay $62,500 to resolve allegations that she caused the submission of false claims to Medicare for medically unreasonable and unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME).
The United States previously filed a complaint against Dr. Alexandria Williams. The complaint alleges that Dr. Williams signed orders for DME that
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release:
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Illinois Doctor Agrees to Pay $62,500 for Signing False Orders in Durable Medical Equipment Scheme
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An Illinois-based doctor has agreed to pay $62,500 to resolve allegations that she caused the submission of false claims to Medicare for medically unreasonable and unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME).
The United States previously filed a complaint against Dr. Alexandria Williams. The complaint alleges that Dr. Williams signed orders for DME thatwere pre-populated based on telemarketing calls made to Medicare beneficiaries and contained multiple false statements, including that Dr. Williams had completed an evaluation of the patient, discussed the use of orthotics with the patient and instructed the patient on medical follow-up care.
Without these signed orders, DME suppliers could not have submitted claims to Medicare for the medically unnecessary orthotics. The complaint further alleges that Dr. Williams received payment for each order she reviewed through a staffing company that had connected her with Integrated Support Plus, Inc., a telemedicine company whose owner pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme in 2020.
As part of the settlement agreement, Dr. Williams admitted that, between December 2018 and April 2019, she worked for Integrated Support Plus and signed orders for medically unnecessary orthotic braces for Medicare beneficiaries.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. This matter is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Brazier and Lindsey Ross of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/illinois-doctor-agrees-pay-62500-signing-false-orders-durable-medical-equipment-scheme
Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Threatening Federal Court Employee in Massachusetts
BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release:
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Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Threatening Federal Court Employee in Massachusetts
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BOSTON - A federal inmate pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to sending several threatening letters to an employee at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse.
Devin James Melycher, 33, pleaded guilty to three counts of mailing threatening communications. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Sept. 22, 2026. Melycher was
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release:
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Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Threatening Federal Court Employee in Massachusetts
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BOSTON - A federal inmate pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to sending several threatening letters to an employee at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse.
Devin James Melycher, 33, pleaded guilty to three counts of mailing threatening communications. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Sept. 22, 2026. Melycher wasindicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024.
Melycher is a federal inmate who, since 2023, has been in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons. It is alleged that on three separate occasions: Dec. 16, 2022; Jan. 3, 2023; and Jan. 12, 2023, Melycher sent letters addressed to a U.S. official at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston threatening to injure the victim employee.
The charges of using of mailing threatening communications each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B Foley and Dennis Matulewicz, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney's Luke A. Goldworm and Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/federal-inmate-pleads-guilty-threatening-federal-court-employee-massachusetts
New York City Felon Sentenced to 77 Months for D.C. Swatting and Carjacking Incidents
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia posted the following news release:
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New York City Felon Sentenced to 77 Months for D.C. Swatting and Carjacking Incidents
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WASHINGTON - Thierno Barry, 23, a previously convicted felon who resided in Queens, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 77 months in federal prison in the March 2025 multijurisdictional crime spree that included a high-speed police chase, the swatting of a random Northwest residence and a subsequent carjacking of an elderly couple the same day at Union Station, announced
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WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia posted the following news release:
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New York City Felon Sentenced to 77 Months for D.C. Swatting and Carjacking Incidents
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WASHINGTON - Thierno Barry, 23, a previously convicted felon who resided in Queens, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 77 months in federal prison in the March 2025 multijurisdictional crime spree that included a high-speed police chase, the swatting of a random Northwest residence and a subsequent carjacking of an elderly couple the same day at Union Station, announcedU.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Barry, aka "Usman Barrie," pleaded guilty on January 22, 2026, to one count of carjacking, to one count of interstate transport of a stolen vehicle, and to making false alarms and reports. In addition to the 77-month prison term, Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered Barry to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of 102 months.
"Thierno Barry led police on a 120-mile-per-hour chase while live-streaming the pursuit, filed a false shooting report that sent officers rushing to a sleeping family's home, and carjacked an elderly couple on their way to the hospital," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "This violent and reckless conduct put countless lives at risk. Our office will continue to hold accountable anyone who treats the District as a playground for violence and lawlessness."
According to court documents, at about midnight on March 31, 2025, Barry was being pursued by Virginia State Police when he drove into the District. During the chase which reach speeds over 120 m.p.h., Barry used his cellphone to post to social media, including an Instagram selfie with the caption "Run or pull over like a ?bitch" at 11:41 p.m. At 11:52 p.m., Barry posted a video narrating the pursuit, saying: "... I'm talking about five state troopers on my a** bro! I swear to god..."
Barry abandoned the Volkswagen SUV he was driving in an alley behind 4300 block of Reno Road, NW. Metropolitan Police officers responded to the area at 12:21 a.m., recovered the vehicle, but were unable to locate Barry.
At 1:30 a.m., Barry called 911 and falsely reported to the operator that his ex-husband had shot his wife in the face and chest. He indicated that the shooter had driven away. Barry provided an address on Brandywine Street NW where he claimed the shooting had occurred. At the time Barry made the report, he knew that it was false. A few minutes after Barry made the call, 911 operators attempted to call back the phone number that had made the report but were sent to voicemail. The voicemail mailbox recording stated that the mailbox belonged to "Thierno Barry."
MPD responded to the address of the reported shooting and made contact with the residents of the house, who were asleep when MPD arrived.
Barry remained in the area until 2:30 a.m., when video footage showed him at the 4200 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW boarding a WMATA bus. 3:11 a.m. he switched to another bus in the 2100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
Barry boards the second WMATA bus.
Shortly after getting off of the bus, Barry entered Union Station. Security guards reported that an individual matching Barry's description was kicked out of station about 3:30 a.m. after making threats to commit a shooting there.
At 3:37 a.m., Barry approached a Buick sedan occupied by an 88-year-old man and an 87-year-old woman who had been stopped directly in front of the station.
Barry approached the driver's side, then reached into the open window and opened the driver's side door. Barry ordered the couple out of the car repeatedly, stating "Get out of the car! If you don't, I'm gonna kill you." Barry told the victims that he had a gun and held his hand in the pocket of his sweatshirt to imitate a firearm.
Surveillance photo shows Barry behind the wheel of the Buick sedan, as the 88-year-old man (CW-3) attempts to get up from the street where Barry had thrown him to the ground.
The victims told Barry that they could not give him the car because they were on their way to the hospital, but Barry continued to threaten them and demand the car.
With the driver's door still opened, Barry grabbed hold of the driver's upper body, physically wrenched him out of the vehicle, and threw him to the ground. Barry stepped over the man and climbed into the driver's seat. The woman passenger got out of the car. With the doors still open, Barry drove away, eventually reaching a gas station in Greenbelt, Maryland. During that drive, images of the car were captured by a speed camera. Barry only stopped driving after the car suffered a flat tire.
The Greenbelt Police Department apprehended Barry, who initially identified himself as with the alias "Usaman Barrie."
Barry has two prior felony convictions and has seven other open cases outside of this jurisdiction.
This case was investigated by the MPD, the FBI Washington Field Office, and the Greenbelt Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan.
25cr175
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Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/new-york-city-felon-sentenced-77-months-dc-swatting-and-carjacking-incidents
Former CEO Of Cosmetic Company Charged With Defrauding Public Company And Its Shareholders
NEW YORK, May 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York posted the following news release:
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Former CEO Of Cosmetic Company Charged With Defrauding Public Company And Its Shareholders
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United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service ("USPIS"), Ketty Larco-Ward, announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging JAIME CASTLE, former Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of Obagi Cosmeceuticals LLC ("Obagi") with conspiracy, securities fraud,
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, May 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York posted the following news release:
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Former CEO Of Cosmetic Company Charged With Defrauding Public Company And Its Shareholders
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United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service ("USPIS"), Ketty Larco-Ward, announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging JAIME CASTLE, former Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of Obagi Cosmeceuticals LLC ("Obagi") with conspiracy, securities fraud,wire fraud, and false statements to auditors and improperly influencing an audit. CASTLE led a scheme to fraudulently inflate Obagi's purported sales of cosmetic products to give the false impression that Obagi was a growing company. CASTLE used that fraudulently inflated revenue to deceive a public company that acquired Obagi, called Waldencast Plc ("Waldencast"), and its shareholders, obtaining a $2 million cash bonus for arranging the acquisition. Once her scheme was uncovered, Waldencast had to restate its revenue by more than $50 million as a result of Castle's fraud.
CASTLE was presented Monday before Judge Lehrburger. The case has been assigned to the Honorable John G. Koeltl.
"Jaime Castle allegedly defrauded a public company and its shareholders by ginning up fake revenue to suggest growth that did not exist," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Castle then lied to auditors to try to keep her scheme from being uncovered. Today's indictment is a reminder that this Office and our law enforcement partners will not hesitate to go to the C-suite to root out fraud and false statements in our business community."
"Ms. Castle allegedly used the U.S. Mail to facilitate her criminal activity, swindling her unsuspecting investors by providing them false information about her company," said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will work tirelessly to expose these investment scams and protect the public from individuals, who use deceptive tactics to make a profit."
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court: [1]
From at least in or about 2021 through at least in or about 2023, CASTLE orchestrated a scheme to enrich herself by fraudulently inflating Obagi's revenue and financial performance in order to defraud Waldencast and its shareholders. CASTLE, the CEO of Obagi, created the illusion that Obagi was a growing company by artificially inflating purported sales of cosmetic products to a Vietnamese distributor ("Distributor-1"), even though CASTLE knew that Distributor-1 could not pay for and, in many cases, had no need for those products. This illusion of growth made Obagi appear to be an attractive acquisition target for Waldencast and for Waldencast's shareholders, who voted to approve a merger with Obagi in July 2022. CASTLE received a bonus of over $2 million for the successful completion of that merger. She then continued to lie to Waldencast's management, shareholders, and auditors about Obagi's sales and revenue, in the hopes of receiving additional bonuses and to conceal her scheme. When Waldencast discovered CASTLE's scheme, it restated Obagi's revenue for 2021 and 2022, showing that more than $50 million in revenue had been fraudulently reported based on CASTLE's lies.
Despite the fact that Distributor-1 had a long history of failing to pay amounts owed for Obagi products, routinely violated the provision of her distribution agreement with Obagi requiring timely payment, and was holding a backlog of unsold product, CASTLE pushed ever greater quantities of product to Distributor-1, which Distributor-1 did not need and could not sell or pay for, to create the appearance that Obagi was a growing company.
CASTLE's lies caused Waldencast to file publicly and with the SEC financial information about Obagi that was not true, including-shortly before Waldencast's shareholders voted to approve the merger with Obagi-that Obagi had "[o]ver-delivered on topline" in 2021 and had "[s]trong momentum" in 2022 "with Q1 outperforming versus budget and last year." Meanwhile, in private messages CASTLE acknowledged the exact opposite, writing in text messages that Obagi was "getting almost no payments [and] it's becoming a massive issue for us" and that she had "been trying to keep how bad the account standing [is] under wraps." She also acknowledged that "[Distributor-1] has a ton of inventory" and that CASTLE was "not sure how to handle [the situation] without sounding every alarm and scar[]ing everyone in the company."
After Waldencast's shareholders approved the merger with Obagi, CASTLE continued to lie about the company's financial situation to Waldencast executives and its auditors. But eventually her scheme was uncovered. Between January and March 2024, Waldencast issued multiple restatements to financial reports that it issued in 2021 and 2022. Those restatements had the effect of, among other things, reducing revenue from Obagi's sales to Distributor-1 by over $14 million for 2021 and by over $40 million for 2022.
CASTLE, 46, of Conroe, Texas, is charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, make false filings, and false statements to auditors, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison; securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; false statements to auditors and improperly influencing the conduct of audits, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Mr. Clayton further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This case is being handled by the Office's Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas Burnett, Courtney Heavey, and Allison Nichols are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-ceo-cosmetic-company-charged-defrauding-public-company-and-its-shareholders
Eighteen Charged in Multi-State Drug and Money Laundering Conspiracy
BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release:
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Eighteen Charged in Multi-State Drug and Money Laundering Conspiracy
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BOSTON - Eighteen individuals in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, California and Hawaii have been arrested in connection with an alleged drug trafficking and money laundering scheme centered in Gardner, Mass.
The following defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. They appeared in federal
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release:
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Eighteen Charged in Multi-State Drug and Money Laundering Conspiracy
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BOSTON - Eighteen individuals in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, California and Hawaii have been arrested in connection with an alleged drug trafficking and money laundering scheme centered in Gardner, Mass.
The following defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. They appeared in federalcourts in Worcester as well as Trenton, NJ, Orlando, FL, Dallas, Texas, Tulsa, Okla., Riverside, Calif. and Honolulu, Hawaii last week:
1\. Hai Son Pham, 39, of Gardner, Mass.
2\. Kelly Breault, 41, of Leominster, Mass.
3\. Boonphet Sysoumang, 42, of Gardner, Mass.
4\. Rafael Moreno, 38, of Leominster, Mass.
5\. Andres Montemayor, 42, of Arlington, Texas
6\. James Jah, 37, of South River, N.J.
7\. Cesar Gonzalez, age 42, of Rancho Mirage, Calif.
8\. Courtney Spaulding, 42, of Leominster, Mass.
9\. Abdeem Griffin, 31, of Vallejo, Calif.
10\. Rhonda Reed, of Winchendon, Mass.
11\. Fong Yang, 43, of Claremore, Okla.
12\. Kenneth Godfrey, 59, of Phillipston, Mass.
13\. Scorpio Ramos, 41, of Fitchburg, Mass.
14\. Giovan Colon, 36, of Kissimmee, Fla.
15\. Gary Boucher, 46, of Shirley, Mass.
16\. David Vega, 37, of Fitchburg, Mass.
17\. Frederick Hrdy, 38, of Honolulu, Hawaii
18\. Jose, Garcia, 36, of Chicopee, Mass.
According to the charging documents, Pham headed a drug trafficking organization in North Worcester County, Mass. From there, Pham and his co-conspirators allegedly conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute large quantities of cocaine, marijuana, counterfeit pills and other controlled substances throughout the United States, to include Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, Oklahoma, California, Texas, Washington and Hawaii.
According to court documents Pham registered and controlled Infinite Painting, a local commercial and residential painting company. Pham and his co-conspirators allegedly used Infinite Painting to launder drug proceeds through multiple financial institutions by concealing the illegal source of these funds.
The drug conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years up to lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The money laundering conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Massachusetts State Police; the Worcester County Sheriff's Department; and Worcester, Gardner, Leominster, Fitchburg, Cliton, Lunenburg, Hopkinton, Westminster, Ashburnham, Winchendon, Templeton, Phillipston, Boylston, Sterling and Weymouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/eighteen-charged-multi-state-drug-and-money-laundering-conspiracy
Behavioral Health Companies and Physician-Owner Agree to Pay $1.4 Million for Allegedly Billing for Psychotherapy Services that Clinicians Did Not Perform
BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release:
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Behavioral Health Companies and Physician-Owner Agree to Pay $1.4 Million for Allegedly Billing for Psychotherapy Services that Clinicians Did Not Perform
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Behavioral health clinics, Nova Psychiatric Services, P.C. (Nova), Patriot Eldercare, Inc. (Patriot), and the president and director of Nova and Patriot, Alexandra Accardi, M.D., have agreed to pay $1.4 million to resolve allegations that they fraudulently billed government health insurance programs
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release:
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Behavioral Health Companies and Physician-Owner Agree to Pay $1.4 Million for Allegedly Billing for Psychotherapy Services that Clinicians Did Not Perform
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Behavioral health clinics, Nova Psychiatric Services, P.C. (Nova), Patriot Eldercare, Inc. (Patriot), and the president and director of Nova and Patriot, Alexandra Accardi, M.D., have agreed to pay $1.4 million to resolve allegations that they fraudulently billed government health insurance programsfor psychotherapy and medication management services, in violation of the False Claims Act.
As part of the settlement agreement, Nova, Patriot and Accardi admitted and accepted responsibility for certain facts providing the basis for the settlement. Nova and Patriot (collectively also known as Prime Behavioral Health) are behavioral health clinics with office locations in Quincy and Weymouth, Mass. Dr. Alexandra Accardi is a psychiatrist and the founder and owner of Nova and Patriot.
Between Jan. 1, 2017, and May 18, 2023, Nova and Patriot billed Medicare, Medicaid and the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission (GIC) for medication management and psychotherapy services that behavioral health clinicians did not perform. Nova's Chief Operating Officer (COO), Miguel Saravia, directed independent contractors separate from the companies' billing departments to alter claims before their submission to Medicare, Medicaid and GIC by adding billing codes for additional psychotherapy and medication management services that the Nova or Patriot behavioral health clinicians had not performed. Nova and Patriot employees repeatedly raised concerns to Accardi and Saravia about these billing practices, but Nova, Patriot, Accardi and Saravia made no changes to these billing practices.
In September 2024, Saravia was charged with six counts of healthcare fraud related to his directing the independent contractors with no billing or medical training to submit false claims to health insurance programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and GIC, on behalf of Nova and Patriot. The charges concerned some of the same fraudulent billing resolved by the civil settlement announced today. Saravia subsequently pleaded guilty to the charges and, on March 26, 2025, was sentenced to 3.5 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and was ordered to pay $561,141 in restitution.
The claims resolved in today's settlement include claims that were brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States and Commonwealth of Massachusetts ex rel. Jessica Spissinger and Matthew Peculis v. Nova Psychiatric Services, P.C., et al., No. 19-cv-11137-ADB. As part of today's resolution, the relator will receive 17.5% of the settlement amount.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Sharobem and Lindsey Ross of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the matter.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/behavioral-health-companies-and-physician-owner-agree-pay-14-million-allegedly-billing
