Multiple federal officials, including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel, were in Ohio Thursday to announce a sweeping crackdown on fraud, accusing 14 people across cases involving Medicaid fraud, COVID-19 relief fraud and romance scams.”Ohio is facing one of the most significant fraud schemes in the country,” Blanche said in his announcement.The cases stem from Medicaid and health care fraud to COVID-19 relief fraud and consumer romance scams.The Justice Department said nine defendants face federal and state charges tied to more than $42 million in alleged fraud, while five additional defendants were charged or detained in a separate $15 million romance scam case.One federal case in the Southern District of Ohio charges four defendants in an alleged $30 million behavioral health fraud scheme involving false Medicaid billing for children and young adults. Authorities said they seized three bank accounts containing about $469,000 and 14 vehicles worth about $800,000.Another case announced comes out of Butler County, charging a man accused of a years-long fraud scheme totaling $12 million. State prosecutors have indicted Robert Haley on 31 charges, including forgery, Medicaid fraud, aggravated theft, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Police said the alleged crimes committed by Haley occurred between January 2020 and May 2026.He’s accused of making more than 60,000 fraudulent Medicaid claims for services that were not provided, resulting in more than $12 million in improper payments. He’s then accused of creating false records when investigators began looking into the case. Federal officials also detailed other cases including an alleged $1.4 million paycheck protection program scheme and a $15 million romance scam case.To combat fraud cases, federal and state officials are establishing programs and task forces.Blanche said they are suspending 49 home health care providers identified as high risk.Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, says Ohio will also be establishing a “Medicaid fraud room.””We’re coming after you wherever you are,” Oz said.The announcements come after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine implemented a six-month moratorium on new home-healthcare and hospice businesses being able to become Medicaid providers, to crack down on high risk providers.”We will not stop until we fix this problem,” Blanche said.Officials also announced they’re establishing a “Most Wanted Fraudsters” program to publicize wanted fraud suspects.
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
Multiple federal officials, including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel, were in Ohio Thursday to announce a sweeping crackdown on fraud, accusing 14 people across cases involving Medicaid fraud, COVID-19 relief fraud and romance scams.
“Ohio is facing one of the most significant fraud schemes in the country,” Blanche said in his announcement.
The cases stem from Medicaid and health care fraud to COVID-19 relief fraud and consumer romance scams.
The Justice Department said nine defendants face federal and state charges tied to more than $42 million in alleged fraud, while five additional defendants were charged or detained in a separate $15 million romance scam case.
One federal case in the Southern District of Ohio charges four defendants in an alleged $30 million behavioral health fraud scheme involving false Medicaid billing for children and young adults. Authorities said they seized three bank accounts containing about $469,000 and 14 vehicles worth about $800,000.
Another case announced comes out of Butler County, charging a man accused of a years-long fraud scheme totaling $12 million.
State prosecutors have indicted Robert Haley on 31 charges, including forgery, Medicaid fraud, aggravated theft, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Police said the alleged crimes committed by Haley occurred between January 2020 and May 2026.
He’s accused of making more than 60,000 fraudulent Medicaid claims for services that were not provided, resulting in more than $12 million in improper payments.
He’s then accused of creating false records when investigators began looking into the case.
Federal officials also detailed other cases including an alleged $1.4 million paycheck protection program scheme and a $15 million romance scam case.
To combat fraud cases, federal and state officials are establishing programs and task forces.
Blanche said they are suspending 49 home health care providers identified as high risk.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, says Ohio will also be establishing a “Medicaid fraud room.”
“We’re coming after you wherever you are,” Oz said.
The announcements come after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine implemented a six-month moratorium on new home-healthcare and hospice businesses being able to become Medicaid providers, to crack down on high risk providers.
“We will not stop until we fix this problem,” Blanche said.
Officials also announced they’re establishing a “Most Wanted Fraudsters” program to publicize wanted fraud suspects.
