A federal jury has convicted two brothers and a high-level executive of orchestrating a decade-long racketeering scheme that stole more than $32 million from Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program. Bhaskar Savani, a certified dentist, and his brother Arun Savani were convicted of running “the Savani Group,” a complex criminal network that used dental practices to facilitate healthcare fraud, visa fraud, and money laundering.
The inquiry discovered that the brothers set up a complex web of nominee-owned dental clinics to continue invoicing Medicaid even after the Savani Group’s formal contracts were terminated.
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According to the evidence produced at trial, the plan entailed invoicing for services under the names of dentists who had never treated the patients. Along with the healthcare scam, the organization submitted fake H-1B visa applications to illegally recruit foreign workers and then demanded wage kickbacks from those same people.
Aleksandra “Ola” Radomiak, a long-term executive who helped organize the Medicaid fraud, was also convicted with the brothers. Prosecutors described how the trio utilized a web of financial transactions and shell businesses to conceal their gains and obstruct a grand jury inquiry.
Bhaskar Savani was also found guilty of conspiracy to distribute adulterated and misbranded medical equipment.
“This significant prosecution exemplifies the commitment of the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners to protect taxpayer-funded programs from fraudsters and corrupt healthcare professionals,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva. He noted that the defendants manipulated worker visa programs and Medicaid for personal enrichment and will now “pay a heavy price.”
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania emphasized the case’s difficulties, claiming that the prosecution needed “untangling a complex web of fraudulent billing practices and sham medical entities.”
Law enforcement officials from the FBI, IRS, and HHS-OIG all reiterated these comments, underlining that the convictions serve as a reminder to those who want to exploit vulnerable patients and government resources.
The enterprise was massive. Acting Deputy Inspector General Scott J. Lampert of the HHS-OIG stated that the Savani enterprise “exploited vulnerable patients, manipulated government programs, and siphoned taxpayer dollars for their benefit.”
Additionally, Homeland Security Investigations’ Eric McLoughlin stated that the organization “manipulated our immigration system” and “laundered their illicit proceeds through a maze of shell companies.”
The Savani brothers face astounding statutory maximum jail sentences: 420 years for Bhaskar and 415 years for Arun. Their allegations include racketeering conspiracy, visa fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to defraud the United States Treasury. Radomiak was found guilty of racketeering and healthcare fraud conspiracies.
The brothers will be sentenced on July 8 and 9, respectively, and Radomiak on July 14 before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl.
