South Florida has once again found itself at the centre of a vast and deeply entrenched healthcare fraud investigation — one that federal prosecutors say has exposed a $6.5 billion nationwide criminal enterprise built on fake treatments, bogus billing and systemic abuse of public healthcare funds.
In what officials are describing as one of the largest coordinated fraud crackdowns in U.S. history, the Department of Justice says 455 defendants, including doctors, clinic owners and licensed healthcare professionals, have now been charged.
Across Florida alone, investigators have already seized more than $27 million in fraudulent Medicare payments, with dozens of clinics accused of billing for treatments that were never provided — including wound care products, diagnostic testing and medical equipment.
Authorities say the schemes stretch across multiple states and medical sectors, from cardiovascular testing to mental health billing and durable medical equipment fraud, with patients often caught in the middle of elaborate billing operations designed to exploit Medicare and Medicaid systems.
U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones said investigators are targeting organised criminal networks, not isolated incidents, describing a system designed to “exploit the healthcare system and steal from American taxpayers.”
But it is the detail of the allegations in South Florida that has stunned investigators.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the following individuals are among those charged:
“Casilda Muniz Rodriguez, 57, of Hialeah, was charged by information with conspiracy to defraud the government in connection with her role setting up clinics in South Florida that fraudulently billed Medicare for over $117 million for skin substitutes and wound care products that were never provided.”
“Dr. Jason Finkelstein, 53, of Fort Worth, Texas, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, and health care fraud, in connection with an $89 million cardiovascular testing scheme.”
“Eduardo Javier Ibarra Arrowsmith, 61, of Miami, was charged by criminal complaint with fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to fraudulently certify naturalization applicants as disabled in order to exempt them from the English language and civics requirements of the U.S. citizenship naturalization test.”
“Ibrahim Hilmi, 58, of Miami, was charged by indictment with health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering, in connection with a $3.76 billion health care fraud scheme.”
“Giorgi Kimeridze, 43, a national of the country of Georgia, was charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with his role in a multi-billion-dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme uncovered through Operation Gold Rush.”
“Laura Seiler-Anstett, 55, of Coral Springs, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, and health care fraud, in connection with a $58.3 million durable medical equipment scheme.”
“Rajiv Shah, 65, of Palm Beach Gardens, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, and health care fraud, in connection with an over $64 million scheme to submit fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary DME.”
“Anthony Tursi, 39, of Boynton Beach, was charged by information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks in connection with a $62 million scheme involving medically unnecessary genetic testing.”
“Yilian Cruz, 36, of Miami Lakes, along with Inti Cruz, 55, and Adaimis Perez Arencibia, 39, were charged by information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud involving more than $1 million in allegedly fraudulent Medicaid reimbursements for psychosocial rehabilitation services.”
“Rene Yartu Couceiro, 57, of Miami, was charged by information with conspiracy to make false statements relating to health care matters in connection with a Medicaid and Medicare fraud scheme involving cash ‘donations’ paid to beneficiaries to receive psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy that was not fully provided.”
Officials say the investigation highlights a pattern of exploitation across Florida’s healthcare system — from fake billing and kickbacks to identity fraud and unnecessary medical procedures.
Prosecutors warn the financial damage could be far higher than currently estimated, with Florida’s 2025 fraud losses alone potentially reaching up to $1 billion.
If convicted, many of those charged face decades in federal prison, as authorities continue what they describe as an ongoing, nationwide crackdown on healthcare fraud networks.