A Florida man is among fifteen individuals charged in connection with an unprecedented international health care fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care programs out of more than $10.6 billion. The charges, announced as part of the 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, represent the largest health care fraud case by loss amount ever prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The elaborate scheme—dubbed Operation Gold Rush—was allegedly orchestrated by a transnational criminal organization based in Russia and operating across multiple countries. Using stolen identities, front companies, and fake medical equipment providers, the group submitted billions in fraudulent claims to Medicare across all 50 states.
Florida resident Joseph Tony Brown-Arkah was one of the many conspirators charged in the sweeping takedown. Prosecutors say Brown-Arkah operated a Suboxone clinic in Florida and conspired to defraud Medicare and Medicaid by submitting approximately $85 million in false claims for services that were never provided. He is also accused of distributing narcotics through illegitimate prescriptions written by a provider located in Florida who never saw or spoke to patients.
While Brown-Arkah’s actions directly impacted Florida’s vulnerable residents, officials emphasize that his alleged crimes were part of a much broader international operation. Many defendants—including foreign nationals from Russia and Estonia—are still being sought by law enforcement. Others have already been arrested abroad.
“This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers,” stated Attorney General Bondi. “Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”
Operation Gold Rush, investigators say, involved the acquisition of dozens of shell companies—some of them registered in Florida—used to bill Medicare for durable medical equipment (DME) that was never provided. The operation also exploited the U.S. financial system, using fake documentation and international bank accounts to launder hundreds of millions in stolen funds to countries such as China, Israel, Singapore, and Turkey.
The scheme reportedly affected over one million U.S. citizens, including many elderly and disabled, whose personal information was used to submit false claims.
The full release can be found here.
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