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The first defendant is Anuar Abdrakhmanov. He is accused of taking over a legally registered company, Priority One Medical Equipment, located in Kentucky, and using it to submit false claims under Medicare. According to the prosecution, from March to August 2024, the company billed approximately $666 million for catheters and continuous glucose monitors.
According to court documents, Anuar Abdrakhmanov arrived in the U.S. in May 2023 on a work visa, which expired in September of the same year, but he remained in the country. In April 2024, he became a manager and member of Priority One after it was sold by the previous owner.
From May to August 2024, Medicare recorded about 250 complaints regarding Priority One. Many patients claimed they had not ordered any goods or services from this company. Six Medicare recipients in Illinois informed investigators that they had not received diabetic supplies, and some even stated that they did not have diabetes.
In July 2024, investigators observing the Priority One office in Kentucky noted that it appeared abandoned. Staff hiring was minimal, and their only task was to collect mail and forward it through the encrypted Telegram app to a manager they had never seen. Court documents show that FedEx checks were sent to addresses in the suburbs of Chicago.
One employee reported finding a check for $1 million issued to the company, and after its discovery, he received a $2,000 bonus.
In July 2024, Medicare suspended payments to Priority One until the distribution of funds began. However, Medigap insurance companies, according to the investigation, paid out at least $450,000 in claims. Financial records show that Anuar Abdrakhmanov transferred about $182,000 to accounts in Hong Kong and attempted to send over $200,000 abroad. In August 2024, he also deposited about 30 checks from Medigap insurance companies into the Priority One account, totaling approximately $22,500.
The second defendant is Tair Smagul, who resides in the Chicago area, is charged with conspiracy to launder money obtained from Medicare fraud. He is linked to the company Medical Home Care Inc., registered in Connecticut.
According to the prosecution's version, from December 2023 to September 2024, Tair Smagul controlled the firm and participated in a nationwide scheme of billing Medicare and Medigap for catheters and other medical equipment that was not medically necessary and often not delivered to patients.
The prosecution claims that Medical Home Care submitted about 470,000 claims totaling approximately $953 million from May 2023 to June 2024, while Medicare received over 27,000 complaints from insured individuals.
Investigators interviewed 19 Medicare recipients, including five from Illinois, and all denied receiving catheters. Three medical professionals mentioned as having prescribed the equipment also confirmed that they had not prescribed it, and the listed recipients were not their patients.
Financial documents show that Medigap insurance companies paid at least $854,000 for fraudulent claims from Medical Home Care in January-February 2024.
The investigation claims that Tair Smagul repeatedly withdrew cash through ATMs in Illinois, after which he closed his company's bank accounts and transferred money from fraudulent funds to his personal account.
