The Department of Justice recently announced a new West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force covering Arizona, Nevada, and the Northern District of California. The initiative expands federal enforcement efforts targeting telehealth fraud, kickback schemes, Medicaid billing fraud, controlled substance distribution, and other healthcare-related investigations.
For healthcare businesses and medical professionals, the message from DOJ...
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Can you “accidentally” commit tax fraud?
Federal tax fraud cases don't always begin with deliberate wrongdoing. The line between an honest mistake and a criminal charge comes down to intent, and the government doesn't always read that the way you do. What feels like “accidental” tax evasion in one person’s eyes, like a missed income source or a deduction you...
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How wire transfer fraud happens in real estate
Real estate wire fraud happens when a hacker accesses someone's email during a real estate sale and changes the wiring instructions. The buyer follows those instructions and sends their down payment (sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars) to an account controlled by the hacker instead of the one they intended. By the time anyone...
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What are the most common types of healthcare fraud?
Health care fraud can take many forms, but there are common types of health care fraud schemes frequently prosecuted by the Department of Justice (“DOJ”). It is also a frequent subject of False Claims Act (“FCA”) qui tam suits. FCA actions have resulted in the recovery of billions of dollars on behalf...
How the DOJ is using the False Claims Act to pursue customs and tariff violations
The U.S. Department of Justice is expanding its use of the False Claims Act (FCA) to address customs fraud and tariff evasion. In 2025, the DOJ, working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), intensified civil enforcement against companies accused of misclassifying imports, misrepresenting the country of...
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Can you get probation for federal charges?
Yes, you can get probation for federal charges in certain cases. However, federal probation is not common and depends heavily on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the nature of the offense, and your criminal history.
In federal court, probation is available only when the advisory guideline range permits it or when a judge determines that a...
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Why 2026 could be a pivotal year for False Claims Act jurisprudence
The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued its year-end report for 2025, noting accomplishments of the civil cases filed under the False Claims Act (FCA), on January 16, 2026. Just a week earlier, the DOJ announced a new internal position tasked with overseeing criminal and civil fraud enforcement, reporting directly to the President.
2025 was...
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DOJ using False Claims Act to probe DEI practices at major companies
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has signaled a new enforcement priority under the False Claims Act (FCA): examining whether certain corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs comply with federal nondiscrimination requirements. According to recent reporting, the DOJ’s Civil Fraud Section is evaluating whether companies that do business with the federal government made...
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Emerging healthcare fraud schemes involving AI, deepfakes, and billing
AI and deepfakes are changing how healthcare fraud works by making false identities look routine. These tools let fraudulent activity pass through billing and compliance systems without immediately standing out. For organizations facing potential AI-enabled healthcare fraud exposure, a healthcare fraud lawyer can help assess legal risk and determine appropriate next steps.
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Staff credentialing and identity risk: lessons from the fake nurse case
Patients understandably assume that the nurses caring for them are properly licensed and qualified. But a recent criminal case involving a fake nurse shows how that assumption can break down when credentialing systems fail, creating serious risks for both patients and healthcare organizations.
When impersonation or false documentation appears in a clinical setting, the issue...
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