Detroit, Michigan — A Michigan home health care owner, Muhammad Zafar, has been sentenced to three years and five months in federal prison after orchestrating a multi-million dollar Medicare fraud scheme. The case, which saw Zafar become an international fugitive for over seven years, culminated in a court decision that brings closure to a scandal involving false billing for home health care services.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Zafar, 53, of Wayne County, was at the center of a conspiracy to defraud Medicare Part A by submitting nearly $7.9 million in false claims. The fraudulent activity involved billing for services that were either medically unnecessary or never provided, exploiting the Medicare system designed to aid vulnerable Americans.
“This sentencing marks a significant victory in our ongoing fight against health care fraud,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri.
“Fraudulent schemes not only drain public resources but also erode trust in the health care system. We remain committed to holding accountable those who choose to exploit it.”
Court documents revealed that Zafar collaborated with three doctors and two other home health care business owners, offering kickbacks and bribes to Medicare recruiters to obtain beneficiary information. This information was used to file false claims, earning Zafar’s company over $393,500 in fraudulent reimbursements from Medicare.
On June 17, 2015, the day Zafar was scheduled to make his initial court appearance, he violated his court-issued bond and fled the country. He crossed the border into Canada before flying to Pakistan, effectively becoming an international fugitive. Zafar remained on the run for seven and a half years until he voluntarily returned to the United States to face justice.
“Our investigators pursued this case relentlessly,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
“Fugitives who defraud the health care system must understand that we will not rest until they are brought to justice.”
In May of this year, Zafar pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. The sentencing serves as a stern warning to those who might consider exploiting federal health care programs.
“Health care fraud is a serious crime that impacts us all,” stated Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
“This case demonstrates the dedication of law enforcement to track down those responsible, no matter how far they flee.”
The investigation into Zafar’s scheme was spearheaded by the HHS-OIG and the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, leading to his eventual capture and conviction. Prosecutor Jeffrey A. Crapko from the Justice Department’s Fraud Section took the case to trial, where Zafar’s fraudulent activities were laid bare.
The conviction is part of a broader effort by the Justice Department’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which has aggressively pursued health care fraud since 2007. In this period, the strike force has charged more than 5,400 defendants, who collectively billed over $27 billion from federal and private health care programs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working alongside the HHS-OIG, continue to implement stricter controls and hold providers accountable for fraudulent practices.
“Our efforts to combat health care fraud are ongoing,” said Argentieri.
“We are sending a clear message: those who engage in fraudulent schemes will be held accountable, regardless of how long it takes or how far they try to run.”
