WWM Watch World Media
Los Angeles, California – June 23, 2026 — Federal prosecutors have charged 10 Southern California defendants in a sweeping healthcare fraud crackdown as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, the largest coordinated enforcement operation of its kind in U.S. history.
The nationwide initiative resulted in 455 defendants being charged across 56 federal districts and 45 states, involving more than $6.5 billion in alleged fraudulent healthcare claims targeting Medicare, Medicaid, and other taxpayer-funded programs.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the Southern California cases center on multiple schemes involving fraudulent Medi-Cal claims, Medicare hospice fraud, opioid-related offenses, and workers’ compensation fraud.
$270 Million Medi-Cal Fraud Scheme
One of the largest cases involves Christina Mareik, 61, of Whittier, who is accused of participating in a scheme that allegedly submitted nearly $270 million in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims for expensive prescription medications.
Federal prosecutors allege the operation exploited a temporary suspension of prior-authorization requirements during California’s Medi-Cal transition between May 2022 and April 2023.
Investigators claim many of the prescriptions were medically unnecessary, contained inexpensive generic ingredients while being billed as costly specialty medications, or were never dispensed to patients.
Authorities say Medi-Cal paid more than $178 million on the allegedly fraudulent claims before the scheme was uncovered.
Mareik was arrested on June 17 and later released on a $100,000 bond. Her arraignment is scheduled for July 23.
$27 Million Medicare Hospice Fraud
A second major case centers on Oren David Shachar, 59, of Van Nuys, who prosecutors say operated multiple hospice companies involved in a fraudulent Medicare billing operation.
Shachar, along with Abraham Shin, 66, of Corona, and Jeannie Choi, 57, of Torrance, allegedly submitted false Medicare claims totaling approximately $27 million.
According to the indictment, the defendants billed Medicare for patients who were not terminally ill, were already deceased, or otherwise did not qualify for hospice care. Prosecutors also allege the group purchased beneficiary information from marketers and paid illegal kickbacks to generate fraudulent business.
The three defendants were arrested on June 18 and face a 16-count federal indictment that includes conspiracy, healthcare fraud, and kickback-related charges.
Shachar and Shin have pleaded not guilty, with trial currently scheduled for August 11, while Choi’s court proceedings remain ongoing.
Largest Healthcare Fraud Enforcement Operation
Federal officials described the nationwide takedown as a major effort to protect public healthcare programs from organized fraud.
The operation involved investigators from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and numerous federal and state law enforcement agencies.
Authorities also announced that substantial assets—including cash, real estate, luxury vehicles, and financial accounts connected to the alleged fraud schemes—are subject to seizure and forfeiture.
Investigation Continues
Officials say the Southern California prosecutions represent only one phase of an ongoing nationwide campaign targeting healthcare fraud networks that exploit taxpayer-funded programs.
Additional arrests and prosecutions are expected as investigators continue reviewing evidence gathered during the operation.
Federal prosecutors emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
WWM – Watch World Media will continue following developments as these cases move through the federal court system and additional enforcement actions are announced.