Fraud News Graphic

Woman pleads guilty to $359 million fraud involving claims for unnecessary respiratory tests submitted with COVID-19 tests

A California woman pleaded guilty to fraudulently submitting claims to governmental and private insurance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic for expensive and medically unnecessary respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests. According to court documents, from June 2020 to April 2022, Lourdes Navarro, 64, of Glendale, conspired with Imran Shams to obtain nasal swab specimens from residents […]

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley

Hawley challenges Biden’s immigration policies with new “State Border Defense Act”

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has introduced the State Border Defense Act to empower states to counteract President Biden’s immigration policies, which critics argue have led to an influx of narcotics on American streets and an increase in child trafficking. Senator Hawley’s legislation emerges in response to the Biden Administration’s actions that some believe undermine […]

Student Loan Forgiveness news graphic

White House provides another $9 billion in student loan debt relief as pandemic pause ends

(Missouri Independent) – As federal student loan repayments restart, the Biden administration Wednesday announced an additional $9 billion in student loan forgiveness for 125,000 borrowers. “For years, millions of eligible borrowers were unable to access the student debt relief they qualified for, but that’s all changed thanks to President Biden and this Administration’s relentless efforts […]

U.S. Capitol building

Congress clears bill to avert shutdown, with vote promised later on Ukraine aid

(Missouri Independent) – Congress approved a bill Saturday night that would stave off a government shutdown until at least mid-November, though the measure doesn’t include Ukraine aid backed by both Republicans and Democrats. The bipartisan 88-9 vote in the U.S. Senate, just hours before a midnight deadline, took place after the U.S. House earlier in […]

Fentanyl news Graphic

Over 40 pounds of fentanyl seized near daycare where 1-year-old child died after fentanyl exposure

As part of an ongoing investigation into fentanyl trafficking in New York City, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers recovered over 40 pounds of suspected fentanyl, carrying an estimated street value of $1.5 million, in the Bronx on Tuesday evening. This seizure occurred six blocks away from DaNino Nino Day Care, where a one-year-old […]

Medicare Fraud News Graphic

Owner of home health company convicted of $2.8 million Medicare fraud scheme

A federal jury in the Eastern District of Michigan convicted an Indian national for orchestrating a $2.8 million health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy and engaging in money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and witness tampering. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Yogesh Pancholi, 43, of Northville, Michigan, owned and operated Shring […]

Health Care Fraud news graphic (telemedicine)

Physician and two pharmacists charged in 13-count indictment for $170 million fraud scheme

A 13-count indictment was unsealed charging two pharmacists and a physician for their roles in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud, kickback, and money laundering scheme. According to court documents, Shalondria Simpson, 45, of Houston, is a pharmacist who owned and operated two pharmacies in Houston: Advance Pharmacy (Advance) and TruCare Pharmacy (TruCare). Simpson’s twin sister, […]

School Discipline

Shaken by post-pandemic disruptions, some states take a harder line on school discipline

(Missouri Independent) – Parents in Boone County, Kentucky, were outraged this past January when a ninth grader who had been suspended a year earlier for threatening violence against his fellow students returned to class as soon as his punishment time was up. The parents packed a school board meeting, excoriating the county superintendent and other […]