A New York-based businessman has pleaded guilty to his role in a large-scale health care fraud and illegal kickback conspiracy that defrauded Medicare of more than $5.3 million, federal authorities announced today.
Mansinh Chaudhari, 55, of Illinois, who also goes by the name “Monsi Koova,” entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court. Chaudhari admitted to conspiring to commit health care fraud and violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
According to court documents and statements made during the hearing, Chaudhari owned and operated a consulting company based in New York. This company purchased sensitive personal information from prospective Medicare beneficiaries, effectively guaranteeing that Medicare would reimburse the cost of COVID-19 tests. Chaudhari then sold this beneficiary information to medical providers across several states, including New Jersey, Tennessee, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah, among others.
The medical providers used this information to submit fraudulent Medicare claims for up to eight over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests per month—tests that the beneficiaries had neither ordered nor needed.
In an attempt to cover their tracks, Chaudhari and his co-conspirators created fake business agreements with the medical providers and issued fraudulent invoices, billing them for marketing, consulting, or fulfillment services. This elaborate scheme allowed the conspirators to divert millions of dollars in Medicare funds through false claims.
The fraudulent activities resulted in a significant financial loss to the Medicare program, amounting to more than $5.3 million. Chaudhari’s actions have been described by U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna as part of a “deliberate effort to exploit Medicare for profit during a national health crisis.”
Chaudhari faces conspiracy to commit health care fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, while conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute carries a maximum of five years. Both charges are also punishable by substantial fines, potentially reaching $250,000 or double the amount of gain or loss from the offense.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 29, 2025, at which time Chaudhari will learn his fate.
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