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Three men headed to prison for $2B healthcare fraud – but kingpin is in the wind

Nypost · 🇷🇺 public Russia · · 376 words · By Ben Kochman
insurance fraud International Crime criminal justice
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What to know about insurance fraud

Three men are headed to prison for their roles in an elaborate international scheme to con health insurers by sending $2 billion of phony telemedicine prescriptions – but the plot’s alleged kingpin is on the lam.

Claims checked 8
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center67%
Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Three men are headed to prison for their roles in an elaborate international scheme to con health insurers by sending $2 billion of phony telemedicine prescriptions – but the plot’s alleged kingpin is on the lam.

Why it matters

Anthony Santamaria, 33, was sentenced Tuesday to serve 10 years behind bars – and forfeit $3.2 million – for his role in a massive insurance scam between 2017 and 2022, federal prosecutors said.

Common ground

Two other fraudsters, 33-year-old Hershel Tsikman and 48-year-old Hafizullah Ebady, were sentenced earlier this month to 10 and eight years in prison, respectively, for their roles in the scheme, according to the US Department of Justice.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/19/us-news/three-men-headed-to-prison-for-2b-healthca…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 7
verified Verified 1
info
Claim 1: “Brian Sutton, 32, a US citizen and leader of the Russia-based criminal crew that allegedly orchestrated the plot, remains at large”
SINGLE SOURCE
The search results for 'Brian' refer to a 2026 film and IMDb entries, not a person named Brian Sutton involved in a criminal crew.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Brian is a 2026 American coming-of-age comedy film directed by Will Ropp and written by Mike Scollins. It stars Ben Wang, William H. Macy, Edi Patterson, Randall Park, Natalie Morales, Joshua Colley, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_(film)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Brian: Directed by Will Ropp. With Joshua Colley, Sam Song Li, William H. Macy, Natalie Morales. An acerbic high school student prone to panic attacks runs for class president to get closer to the tea…
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34093882/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for Brian on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience scores today!
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/brian
info
Claim 2: “The alleged mastermind Sutton – who also goes by Mike Summers, Mike Miller and Ryan White, according to the court docket”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence discusses court documents generally or mentions individuals like Arsène Luscher, but does not mention Brian Sutton or the aliases Mike Summers, Mike Miller, and Ryan White.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The ethnic origin of Arsène Luscher is not mentioned, but it is obvious, judging by his relatives Lyuba and Alexandra Lusher, as well as Eduard and Adam Glazarov, who are involved in the case. From th…
https://bfdcrew.pro/threads/two-cases-in-the-federal-prosecu…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Create alerts, search for and browse the latest case law, PACER documents, judges, and oral arguments. Updated automatically with the latest court documents. An initiative of Free Law Project.
https://www.courtlistener.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Quora is a place to gain and share knowledge. It's a platform to ask questions and connect with people who contribute unique insights and quality answers. This empowers people to learn from each other…
https://www.quora.com/
info
Claim 3: “the schemers submitted more than $1.97 billion in fraudulent prescriptions – with private insurers coughing up a whopping $758 million”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the evidence mentions various healthcare frauds (Medicare, $24.7 billion totals, etc.), none of the provided sources mention the specific figures of $1.97 billion in prescriptions or $758 million from private insurers for this specific case.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — This scheme resulted in over $784 million fraudulently billed to Medicare.[4] As another example, in USA v. Seid., the defendants paid illegal kickbacks to purchase prescriptions for DME and then (i) …
https://www.rivkinradler.com/publications/private-insurers-m…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care pro…
https://www.nicb.org/news/regional-news/three-men-sentenced-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — An investigation into fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs has broadened significantly, federal prosecutors said on Thursday. The prosecutors told reporters that they were investigating suspi…
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/us/minnesota-fraud-scanda…
info
Claim 4: “33-year-old Hershel Tsikman and 48-year-old Hafizullah Ebady, were sentenced earlier this month to 10 and eight years in prison, respectively”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided discusses unrelated legal cases (Georgian ministers, Ezra McCandless, and a French national). There is no mention of Hershel Tsikman or Hafizullah Ebady.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Giorgi Khaindrava was sentenced to 8 years in prison with a similar ban on holding office for two years. Vasil Mkheidze also received 8 years in prison, with the court confiscating material evidence i…
https://unn.ua/en/news/former-georgian-defense-minister-sent…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Ezra McCandless appeal case, 50-year prison sentence, overturn conviction, true crime stories, legal proceedings in court.
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/i-was-sentenced-to-50-years-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — This federal prison sentence sends a clear message that those who launder criminal proceeds will face serious consequences.”Illinois businessman sentenced to ten years in prison for $14 million COVID-…
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/french-national-sentenced-eig…
info
Claim 5: “Three more people, 41-year-old David Bishoff, 35-year-old Brycen Millett and 35-year-old Joshua Alegria, are awaiting sentencing”
SINGLE SOURCE
The search results refer to a science fiction writer (David Bischoff), Stephen Bannon, and a LinkedIn profile for Joshua Alegria, but do not link these individuals to a shared criminal case awaiting sentencing.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — David F. Bischoff was an American science fiction and television writer.He also wrote the second of 24 books in the Time Machine series, Search for Dinosaurs, which is actually about finding Archaeopt…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bischoff
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Washington Post broke stories today about two repeat offenders: Stephen Bannon and Donald Trump.Bannon is scheduled to be sentenced for his two criminal ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTVdeXOr5V8
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — View Joshua Alegria’s profile on LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional community. Joshua has 3 jobs listed on their profile.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-alegria-939083168
info
Claim 6: “Anthony Santamaria, 33, was sentenced Tuesday to serve 10 years behind bars – and forfeit $3.2 million – for his role in a massive insurance scam between 2017 and 2022”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided web search results discuss unrelated cases (a student amputating legs, a businessman named Shreiteh, and Georgian ministers). There is no mention of Anthony Santamaria or this specific insurance scam.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A student persuaded by his friend to get his legs amputated for a $1.3 million insurance scam wound up getting only $7,200 that he now has to return: prosecutors.
https://www.businessinsider.com/taiwan-student-convinced-fri…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Shreiteh, 46, pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge. On March 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold sentenced Shreiteh to ten years in federal prison and ordered him to forf…
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/illinois-businessman-se…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Giorgi Khaindrava was sentenced to 8 years in prison with a similar ban on holding office for two years. Vasil Mkheidze also received 8 years in prison, with the court confiscating material evidence i…
https://unn.ua/en/news/former-georgian-defense-minister-sent…
verified
Claim 7: “the crew bought up pharmacies in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island and New Jersey and ran them through phony “straw owners””
VERIFIED
A search result from the Eastern District of New York explicitly states that defendants purchased and operated pharmacies through straw owners in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan, Long Island, New Jersey, and other states.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Long Island is separated from Manhattan Island and the Bronx by the East River tidal estuary in the west part of the island. North of the island is Long Island Sound, across which lie Westchester Coun…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Specifically, the defendants purchased and operated dozens of existing brick-and-mortar pharmacies through straw owners including in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan, Long Island, New Jersey, Pennsy…
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/seven-members-moscow-ba…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Toxic chemicals are present in paper drinking straws.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19440049.2023.2…
info
Claim 8: “A fourth defendant in the case, 36-year-old Dela Saidazim, was sentenced to time served in December 2022”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence lists people sentenced to 'time served' (a man opening a plane door, an Ohio man, and Young Thug), but there is no mention of Dela Saidazim.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — He was sentenced on Tuesday to time served after spending about 26 months in custody, the Department of Justice said in a press release. His sentence included five years of supervised release, during …
https://abcnews.com/US/man-sentenced-time-served-open-plane-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A Cincinnati man was sentenced to time served on Thursday and won't spend another day behind bars after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the 2016 death of his neighbor...
https://news.grabien.com/thewire/ohio-man-sentenced-time-ser…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — (CNN) — Young Thug was sentenced to time served as part of a sweeping case that originally included dozens of defendants.The rapper, whose given name is Read More.Young Thug appears at a hearing on De…
https://whdh.com/entertainment/rapper-young-thug-sentenced-t…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.