Breaking: Nigerian Among 324 Charged in Massive $14 Billion U.S. Healthcare Fraud Takedown
By DAYO ADESULU
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Nigerian national Olatunbosun Osukoya and 323 others in a $14.6 billion healthcare fraud investigation, alleging large-scale medical billing fraud across multiple states.
Overview of the National Healthcare Fraud Crackdown
In one of the largest healthcare fraud enforcement operations in U.S. history, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged 324 individuals, including a Nigerian man, Olatunbosun Osukoya, for their alleged involvement in fraudulent medical billing schemes that collectively amounted to over $14.6 billion in intended losses.
According to an official statement released by the DOJ on Thursday, the investigation—spanning 50 federal districts and involving 12 State Attorneys General’s Offices—has brought charges against a diverse group of professionals. These include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other licensed healthcare providers who are accused of exploiting both patients and U.S. taxpayers.
Details of Charges Against Nigerian National Olatunbosun Osukoya
Among those indicted is 67-year-old Osukoya, a resident of Plano, Texas, and owner of Cambridge Diagnostics (Ayo Biometrics, LLC). Federal prosecutors allege that Osukoya orchestrated a fraudulent billing scheme that targeted major U.S. health insurance programs, including Medicare and TRICARE, by submitting over $25 million in false medical claims.
The DOJ claims that Osukoya recruited insured individuals to undergo unnecessary and expensive electroencephalogram (EEG) tests at his diagnostic center. He allegedly paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to medical professionals in exchange for patient referrals.
Modus Operandi: Bribes, Kickbacks, and Falsified Diagnoses
According to the indictment, Osukoya and his co-conspirators engaged in a complex scheme involving:
- Recruitment of individuals with active insurance coverage
- Payment of over $450,000 in illicit kickbacks to referring physicians
- Misrepresentation of bribes as legitimate business payments, such as consulting fees or medical directorships
- Falsifying patient diagnoses to justify unnecessary tests
To conceal the fraud and present a façade of legitimacy, fake medical records were allegedly created, and improper payments were disguised as professional services.
Financial Impact and Legal Consequences
The DOJ revealed that Cambridge Diagnostics received over $5 million in reimbursements for these fraudulent claims. The agency emphasized that such schemes not only strain the U.S. healthcare system but also endanger the welfare of patients subjected to needless procedures.
Osukoya now faces serious federal charges, including conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, a crime that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, depending on the court’s ruling.
Wider Implications: DOJ’s Nationwide Enforcement Effort
The 2025 National Healthcare Fraud Takedown highlights the U.S. government’s continued crackdown on health-related white-collar crime. The DOJ stated that this initiative reflects its commitment to protecting the integrity of national healthcare programs and holding offenders accountable.
The operation demonstrates how individuals from various backgrounds and professions can be implicated in schemes that siphon billions from programs intended to support vulnerable citizens.
