By Guy Page

Two Indian nationals are among the three Vermont defendants in a huge national ‘fraud takedown’ announced by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Justice Department June 30 announced the results of its 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants, including 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed medical professionals.

The charges were filed in 50 federal districts and 12 State Attorneys General’s Offices across the United States. The schemes involved over $14.6 billion in intended loss, authorities say.

Among the 324 defendants are these three charged in U.S. District Court in Vermont, presumably because some of their victims were Vermonters:

Evelyn Herrera, 61, of Loxahatchee, Florida, was charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with a $6.5 million durable medical equipment (“DME”) fraud scheme. According to the complaint, Herrera owned DME supply company Merida Medical Supplies Inc. and caused the submission of $6.5 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for wrist, knee, and back braces and other equipment that were never provided to beneficiaries, not prescribed by their medical providers, and medically unnecessary. Medicare paid approximately $2.8 million based on those claims. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sarah Rocha, Thomas Campbell, and Tiffany Wynn of the New England Strike Force.

Donald Jani, 39, of Maharashtra, India, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of health care fraud in connection with a $1.9 million durable medical equipment (“DME”) fraud scheme. As alleged in the indictment, Jani owned DME supply company CSS Pain Relief, Inc. and caused the submission of $1.9 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for orthotic braces and glucose monitors that were never provided to beneficiaries, medically unnecessary, and ineligible for Medicare reimbursement. Medicare paid approximately $790,000 based on these claims. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sarah Rocha, John Howard, and Thomas Campbell of the New England Strike Force.

Manthan Rohit Shah, 37, of Mumbai, India, was charged by indictment with conspiring to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, conspiring to import controlled substances, and conspiring to commit international concealment money laundering. As alleged in the indictment, Shah owned and operated a pharmaceutical drug supply company based in Mumbai, India, that shipped controlled substances and misbranded pharmaceutical drugs, including drugs that contained potentially potent, dangerous, and/or addictive substances, into New England and across the United States. 

Shah conspired with others to direct the shipment of pharmaceutical drugs for a network of online pharmacies and call centers that fulfilled orders placed by customers in the United States and elsewhere. He further provided fake prescriptions to make the otherwise illegal drugs appear legitimate for import into the United States. Shah then conspired with others to launder the funds from financial accounts in the United States to accounts abroad. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Thomas Campbell and John Howard of the New England Strike Force and Patrick Brown of the Fraud Section’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Unit.

The DOJ report elicited a lengthy, spirited response from online X readers. Here’s one example: “This is unbelievable. Foreigners are stealing taxpayer dollars in billions-of-dollars amounts. There have got to be better controls put into place.”

Feature photo: U.S. Dept. of Justice announces charges filed against 324 defendants in the 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.