Two Indian-origin brothers convicted for healthcare, visa fraud in US

Two men of Indian origin have been convicted of running a multi-state criminal enterprise involving healthcare fraud, visa fraud, money laundering and tax offences in the United States, said the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday.

Bhaskar Savani, 60, and Arun Savani, 58, are facing more than 400 years in jail.

On March 9, the brothers were found guilty in Pennsylvania of operating a long-running “racketeering conspiracy” through their organisation, the Savani Group.

Their associate, Aleksandra Radomiak, was also convicted in the case and faces up to 40 years in prison, said the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

According to the US Department of Justice, the brothers built a network of companies and dental practices over more than a decade and “amassed millions of dollars through multiple fraud schemes”.

Prosecutors said the group defrauded the Medicaid programme of more than $30 million by continuing to submit claims through nominee business owners after their practices had lost eligibility.

Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance programme in the US that provides free or low-cost medical care to people with low incomes. It is jointly funded by the federal government and individual states.

They also billed for procedures carried out by uncredentialed dentists and used another dentist’s National Provider Identifier on dates when that individual was outside the US.

The brothers were...

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