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Fraud

New England Strike Force Cracks Down on Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Schemes Across the Region

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Federal authorities in New England have taken a significant step in combatting health care fraud and money laundering schemes by indicting six individuals and charging them with various crimes related to these offenses. The New England Strike Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and other law enforcement agencies, has charged defendants with conspiring to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.

Key Takeaways:

  • The New England Strike Force has charged six individuals with health care fraud and money laundering schemes totaling over $14 million.
  • The charges include conspiracies to defraud New Hampshire's Medicaid program, Medicare, and other federal benefit programs.
  • One defendant, Erik Alonso, is accused of using his position as a social worker to submit claims to NH Medicaid despite being barred from billing federally funded health care programs.
  • Another defendant, Leo Anzivino Jr., is alleged to have used a straw company to obtain over $6 million in Medicare funds for unnecessary medical equipment.
  • A global pharma company owner, Manthan Rohit Shah, is accused of conspiring to import controlled substances and commit international concealment money laundering.
  • Evelyn Herrera, owner of Merida Medical Supplies Inc., is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and laundering over $6.5 million in Medicare funds.
  • Donald Jani, CEO of CSS Pain Relief, Inc., is accused of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to obtain $1.9 million in Medicare funds.
  • Joseph Dobie, 36, of Lewiston, Maine, is charged with aggravated identity theft, false statements relating to health care matters, and unlawful use of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program ("SNAP") benefits.
  • The New England Strike Force worked with multiple agencies in the nationwide investigation, Operation Gold Rush, which resulted in charges against 19 defendants in connection with a transnational health care fraud and money laundering scheme.

Statistics:

  • The defendants allegedly submitted claims for over $14 million in health care services, including unnecessary medical equipment and prescriptions.
  • The investigation has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets.
  • The nationwide takedown resulted in charges against 324 defendants across 41 districts, with an intended loss of over $14.6 billion.
  • Over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances were involved in the schemes.
  • The investigation involved collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, HHS, FDA, IRS, and US Department of Defense Office of Inspector General.

Sources:

  • Office of Public Affairs | National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 324 Defendants Charged in Connection with Over $14.6 Billion in Alleged Fraud | United States Department of Justice
  • Criminal Division | 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown
  • DOJ Fraud Section | 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown
  • New England Strike Force press release (no date provided)

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