{"id":2604606,"date":"2026-05-19T16:20:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T20:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/member-of-international-fraud-ring-sentenced-in-2-billion-telehealth-scheme\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T16:23:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T20:23:44","slug":"member-of-international-fraud-ring-sentenced-in-2-billion-telehealth-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/member-of-international-fraud-ring-sentenced-in-2-billion-telehealth-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"Member of international fraud ring sentenced in $2 billion telehealth scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmember-of-international-fraud-ring-sentenced-in-2-billion-telehealth-scheme%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2604606&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Moscow-based fraud operation member, Anthony Santamaria (also known by multiple aliases), was sentenced in New York federal court to 10 years in prison for a large telemedicine scheme that ran from 2017 to 2022. Prosecutors say the group used sham call centers, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >ghost telemedicine visits<\/a>, and more then 75 manipulated U.S. pharmacies to bill nearly $2 billion for fraudulent prescriptions, often for patients who never received the medications. The defendants allegedly hid their roles thru aliases, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-dozens-of-nations-execute-most-sophisticated-crime-sting-ever-800-arrested-100-saved\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Dozens Of Nations Execute \u2018Most Sophisticated\u2019 Crime Sting Ever, 800+ Arrested, 100+ Saved\">encrypted communications<\/a>, and shell companies that helped launder hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen healthcare funds overseas.  <\/p>\n<p>Santamaria was ordered to forfeit about $3.2 million, and restitution was set to be determined later. Two co-defendants, Hershel Tsikman and Hafizullah Ebady, received 10 and eight-year sentences earlier this month, while additional conspirators are awaiting sentencing and another key suspect remains at large.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE \u2014  <\/strong>A member of a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Moscow\/\">Moscow<\/a>-based <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fraud\/\">fraud<\/a> network was sentenced in New York federal court this week for operating a massive telemedicine scam that targeted patients all over the United States and laundered hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/healthcare\/\">healthcare<\/a> funds overseas, the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has learned.<\/p>\n<p>According to the charging documents, between 2017 and 2022, operatives tied to the international <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/9-shot-during-a-wake-in-central-mexico\/\" title=\"9 shot during a wake in central Mexico\">criminal organization<\/a> billed nearly $2 billion in fraudulent prescriptions using more than 75 remotely controlled U.S. pharmacies nationwide, including brick-and-mortar clinics scattered across Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan, Long Island, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, and Alabama.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4575027\/member-of-international-healthcare-fraud-ring-sentenced-in-2-billion-telemedicine-scheme\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Member of international healthcare fraud ring sentenced in $2 billion telemedicine scheme<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4573583\/trump-says-wasnt-involved-creating-nearly-2-billion-fund-victims\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump says he wasn\u2019t \u2018involved\u2019 in creation of $1.776 billion fund for lawfare victims<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4567559\/white-house-national-security-save-act-reconciliation\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>White House eyeing security and SAVE Act components in third reconciliation bill<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Department-of-Justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> said they did so through sham call centers that deployed scores of employees and ghost telemedicine visits, all while many of the beneficiaries never received the prescribed medications.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Investigators discovered that teams of \u201cbillers\u201d based out of Moscow were trained to enter data and electronically submit reimbursement requests. To conceal their involvement, the defendants allegedly operated under multiple aliases, funneled proceeds through pass-through shell companies and straw owners, and used end-to-end encrypted communications.<\/p>\n<p>Anthony Santamaria, also known as \u201cBig Boy,\u201d \u201cWade Watts,\u201d \u201cPablo Rodriguez,\u201d \u201cRyan Rusty\u201d and \u201cBruce Peter,\u201d was sentenced on Tuesday to 120 months, or 10 years, in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-defector-emails-pipeline-to-obama-admin-seen-as-currency\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden Defector Emails: &#039;Pipeline&#039; to Obama Admin Seen as &#039;Currency&#039;\">federal prison<\/a> for his role in the telehealth scheme, making him the third member of the Russian fraud ring to receive a lengthy sentence this month and the fourth overall in connection with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/we-got-it-newsmax-reporter-emerald-robinson-national-security-source-confirms-a-piece-of-hardware-has-been-secured-in-germany\/\" title=\"We Got It! - Newsmax Reporter Emerald Robinson: National Security Source Confirms &quot;A Piece of Hardware Has Been Secured&quot; in Germany\">criminal conspiracy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4568393\/healthcare-ceo-brett-blackman-convicted-medicare-fraud-conspiracy\/\">HEALTHCARE COMPANY CEO CONVICTED OF $1 BILLION MEDICARE FRAUD CONSPIRACY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Santamaria\u2019s codefendants, Hershel Tsikman and Hafizullah Ebady, were sentenced earlier in May to 10 years and eight years, respectively, behind bars.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to Tuesday\u2019s prison sentence, Judge William F. Kuntz II ordered Santamaria to forfeit approximately $3.2 million and Ebady to hand over more than $1.8 million. All three defendants were ordered to pay restitution to their victims in an amount to be determined at a later date.<\/p>\n<p>A fourth defendant, Dela Saidazim, was sentenced to time served in December 2022. Three additional <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-edny\/pr\/seven-members-moscow-based-criminal-organization-plead-guilty-over-17-billion\">convicted coconspirators<\/a>, David Bishoff, Brycen Millett, and Joshua Alegria, are awaiting sentencing. An eighth defendant and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-edny\/pr\/leader-and-members-moscow-based-health-care-fraud-and-money-laundering-conspiracy\">suspected leader<\/a> of the criminal organization, Brian Sutton, a U.S. citizen who is believed to be residing abroad, remains at large.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe takedown of this international criminal organization sends a clear message that those who exploit our American healthcare system for profit \u2014 no matter where they operate \u2014 will be identified, investigated, and prosecuted,\u201d FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle said in a press statement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Exclusive: Moscow fraud member sentenced in NY for $2B telemedicine scam<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2604609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/iStock-1437655040-e1779220612475.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[6909,42407,33963,12447,57418],"class_list":["post-2604606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-fraud","tag-international-crime","tag-money-laundering","tag-sentencing","tag-telehealth-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/iStock-1437655040-e1779220612475.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2604606"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2604611,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604606\/revisions\/2604611"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2604609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2604606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2604606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2604606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}