Medical fraudsters arrested in California

Agents from the United States Attorney General’s Office in California have arrested 20 persons whom they believe are part of a group which offered unlicensed medical care to disabled children.



They are facing charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and at least one count of health care fraud.



Officials say the group swindled nearly 5 million US dollars in an alleged fraud scheme.



U.S. Attorney General for Central California, Thomas O’Brien says the group had been under investigation after his office received complaints from persons who became suspicious by their lack of training.



He says they were arrested for posing as licensed nurses and engaging in activities without the proper medical approval.



The Attorney General says investigations revealed that some of the unlicensed nurses had foreign training, but never passed a U.S. qualifying nursing exam, while others had no medical training.



If convicted, they could be slapped with a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in a federal prison.