New York man sentenced for $19 million Medicaid fraud scheme

More highlights from your tax dollars at work!

This time, you purchased a multi-million-dollar mansion and tons of other luxuries for a New York man who illegally bilked Medicaid. Because until 2025, it was the Wild West and fraud was never punished.

But Adnan Arshad (what a classic Long Island name) is going to jail now because he's a no-good thief.

Here's the Justice Department:

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Adnan Arshad, also known as 'Eddie,' was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 97 months in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a scheme to steal over $19 million from Medicaid. Arshad was also ordered to pay forfeiture of over $19 million, including the forfeiture of several real properties and vehicles ...

'While taxpayers footed the bill, Arshad financed a lavish lifestyle with multimillion-dollar homes and luxury vehicles. Today's sentence sends a clear message that those who defraud public healthcare programs for personal enrichment should take notice of the price this defendant will now pay for his greed,' stated United States Attorney Nocella. 'Our Office and the Administration are vigorously prosecuting criminals like the defendant who treat Medicaid like their own personal piggy bank.'

8 years for stealing $19 million of our hard-earned dollars.

Here's more from LIBN in Long Island on the crimes:

Arshad, owner of MTK Taxi in Montauk and co-owner of All-Star Taxi in Ronkonkoma, devised a Medicaid fraud scheme from December 2020 until his June 2024 arrest, officials said. He and his co-conspirators had allegedly paid illegal kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries in exchange for ordering transportation services for methadone treatment at addiction treatment centers. They then billed Medicaid millions of dollars for rides that were never provided, including claims for people who were deceased, hospitalized or in prison.

They also inflated Medicaid reimbursements by directing beneficiaries to request transportation to New York City addiction treatment centers instead of closer Long Island facilities and instructed them to use false pickup addresses to make trips appear longer, and require larger reimbursements, officials said.

Just so, so much fraud was allowed to take place in our country for so long.

It's good to see people paying the price.